Arsenal legend Ian Wright has expressed concern that Real Madrid will exploit Jakub Kiwior’s defensive vulnerabilities in their upcoming Champions League quarter-final clash.
The Gunners are facing an injury crisis in defense, with Gabriel Magalhaes suffering a hamstring injury during their 2-1 win over Fulham.
Gabriel was replaced by Kiwior, who put in an average performance, raising concerns about Arsenal’s defensive solidity.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta admitted to being “worried” over the extent of Gabriel’s injury, which could keep him sidelined for the Real Madrid match.
Ben White and Jurrien Timber are also doubts for the game, adding to Arsenal’s defensive woes.
Wright believes that Kiwior’s positional mistakes could be catastrophic against a team like Real Madrid, who will look to exploit any weaknesses in Arsenal’s defense.
According to Wright, “Without Gabi Magalhaes in that game, you’re looking at Kiwior, and there’s a couple of positional moves that you just cannot afford to do when you play against Real Madrid.”
Wright emphasized that Real Madrid will target any defensive vulnerabilities, making it crucial for Arsenal to have their best defenders available.