Since the Liverpool performance, I have kept thinking primarily about one players performance. Jorginho.
The Italian-Brazilian deservedly won Man of the Match for his performance against Liverpool, and it has further enforced the clear and obvious need for another central midfielder this summer.
When we signed Declan Rice, one thing that excited me was his ability to play further forward.
The England international is the best defensive midfielder in the world, but what sets him even further apart from others is his ability to affect the game in the attacking third.
Rice gives Mikel Arteta two options.
The first, and what will be most commonly used, is playing Rice as the sole defensive midfielder. He is a one man destructive force and allows Ateta to then play two more attacking players ahead of him, thus overloading opponents in our attacking third.
With his ability to play further forward, Rice also gives Arteta an option to play a bit more defensively, without completely sacrificing attacking intent.
A midfield or Thomas Partey behind Rice and Martin Odegaard would have the double defensive duo of Rice and Partey, and then in attack would have Rice and Odegaard. Due to injuries to Partey, we were robbed of playing with the more defensive minded players for trips to the likes of Anfield.
I have always felt Jorginho is a fairly underrated midfielder. One of those that you need to watch live to understand the influence he has on a game.
There is often a misunderstanding of the way he plays the game. Jorginho is not one to run around a lot, cover every blade of grass and win the physical contest. He plays with his brain, akin to Xabi Alonso and Andrea Pirlo.
You do not need to be big, strong and quick if your reading of the game ensures you are always in the right place at the right time. I always remember getting told the best defensive players intercept the ball rather than tackle an opponent. Jorginho falls into this box.
Where Jorginho is exposed, however, is when he does have to play as the sole defensive midfielder. He can get overrun. Playing alongside Rice limits this exposure.
Having Rice further forward put pressure on Liverpool’s midfield and allowed Jorginho to continually receive the ball in space, get his head up and dictate play. Whether it was a long pass over the full back and a short sharp pass into Rice or Odegaard, Jorginho’s play is press allowed us to break Liverpool’s press.
The importance of Jorginho (and the importance of Rice playing further up the field) is highlighted in the Premier League games the former-Chelsea man has started:
Manchester City (H)
Chelsea (A)
Newcastle (A)
Burnley (H)
Liverpool (H)
This highlights that Arteta believes the need for a defensive duo in those bigger games. Jorginho also came on at half-time in the Tottenham game.
It is also noticeable that Jorginho was left on the bench at Anfield. I did wonder at the time if he should have started, which would have allowed Rice to add further defensive steel on our left, nullifying Liverpool’s potent right hand side.
Jorginho turns 33 next year and his contract comes to an end this summer. I would have no objection to him getting a new 2-year deal. He adds leadership and experience to the team on and off the pitch and has no pace or physicality to lose. But I also understand that at his ripe age, he might choose to finish his career back in Italy.
The concern is that if Rice does not play, Jorginho could be exposed as the sole defensive midfielder. That leads me to the conclusion that we need to recruit in the summer, replacing the injury prone Thomas Partey.
We need to look at recruiting someone who can replace Jorginho long term as a ball playing option, but who also has more legs enabling them to replace Rice as the sole defensive midfielder.
And for me, there is one man that ticks all those boxes. Martin Zubimendi.
The Spanish midfielder is classy on the ball, strong in defence, can play as a one of two in defence or further forward as an option at 8. He would be a terrific addition to the team.
The other option would be Douglas Luiz.
Luiz is a bit more all action that Zubimendi, but is not quite at the passing level. That does not mean he is bad on the ball. In fact I think Douglas Luiz is fairly underrated. But he is not quite as good as Zubimendi as that deep lying playmaker.
It is actually interesting that both players strength is arguably the others “weakness”, in that Luiz is all action and can pass, whilst Zubimendi is a passer who can be all action. Both are also 25!
You keep Jorginho and bring in one of Zubimendi or Luiz and you have some fantastic midfield options. It is a toss of a coin which one I would prefer, and my preference would change each day depending on what I think we need more.
The difference maker could be cost – Zubimendi has his well documented £52.5m release clause. But then that is offset by Luiz only have 2-years left on his current deal. Douglas Luiz also has the advantage of being Premier League proven.
I guess the final factor to take into account is what Arteta is looking for.
Douglas Luiz is an 8 that can play 6, whilst Zubimendi is a 6 who can play 8.
So go on then, if you agree with me that a new midfielder is essential, which one do you want? Let us know in the comments.
Keenos
She Wore A Yellow Ribbon 