Arsenal defender Jakub Kiwior has responded to Roy Keane after the Manchester United legend criticised the 23-year-old following the 3-0 defeat against Brighton. The Poland international completed a £21million move to the Emirates Stadium during the January transfer window.
Kiwior has come into the starting XI in recent weeks, replacing Rob Holding with William Saliba still sidelined with a back injury. The Arsenal star came under criticism for staying down injured, clutching his foot in pain, after Evan Ferguson appeared to stamp on his boot in the build-up to Julio Enciso's goal.
Brighton played a dangerous cross right over Kiwior's head inside the six-yard box as he knelt down holding his foot, allowing the Seagulls' forward to head home from close range. Brighton scored another two goals through Deniz Undav and Pervis Estupinan with Aaron Ramsdale coming under fire from Keane and Gary Neville.
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Arsenal are now left hoping for a miracle with Manchester City holding a four-point lead at the top of the Premier League table, with a game in hand on Mikel Arteta's side. The reigning champions could secure their fifth title in six years with a win against Chelsea at the Eithad Stadium next Sunday.
Following the Gunners' 3-0 defeat, Keane slammed Kiwior for his behaviour and told fellow Sky Sports pundit Micah Richards during a debate over the incident: "You talk about putting your body on the line, last-ditch defending and stuff, you don’t stay down like that. Micah, his boot came off, his foot didn’t come off."
The Polish centre-back then explained what happened from his point of view, telling Viaplay: "I felt contact and lost my boot and didn't even see the goal. I hoped VAR would intervene and chalk off the goal, but unfortunately, the ref saw it differently.
"After we conceded the second our heads dropped and we couldn't come back," he added. Gary Neville weighed in on Kiwior's role in Brighton's opener during his commentary on the game, saying: "Kiwior is injured but the fact that he was injured, I mean... He goes down holding his ankle and left Arsenal short in the middle of the box.
"He goes down. Can he not just - I'm scared of saying it... And I'm sure the lads in the studio, Roy [Keane] and Patrick [Viera], might be thinking it and have a bit more to say.
"If you're injured you're injured. But as a centre half, surely you just have to stand up and let the attack finish?"
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