Tag Archives: Jorginho

Arsenal new boys doing their bit in the title challenge

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A lot was made about how our January transfer window would cost us in the title race.

First we missed out on Mikhaylo Mudryk to Chelsea, and then failed to get a deal for Moises Caciedo over the line.

In their place, we signed Leandro Trosssard and Jorginho. The latter of which led to a lot of criticism aimed towards Edu.

In the 1-nil win away to Leicester City, both men not only started? But stared.

Trossard was the best player on the pitch, playing down the middle in the absence of Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah.

Jorginho, meanwhile, kept things ticking over nicely in midfield. No player made more passes.

When the deals for Mudryk and Caciedo broke down, Edu went for tried and tested Premier League stars. He added experience to a young, hungry squad.

In the long run, Mudryk will probably reach higher heights in his career than Trossard has done. Likewise Caicedo might be better than Jorginho will ever be for Arsenal.

But here and now? Today. Yesterday. Last week at Aston Villa. Trossard and Jorginho are proving to be the right men for the job.

Thomas Partey has been out injured for the last two games, and up stepped Jorginho. Putting in the type of performances that saw him named the 3rd best player in the world in 2021.

Had we not signed the Brazilian Italian, we probably would have had Albert Sambi Lokonga playing at the base of the midfield. And I’d be surprised if we’d have won the last two away games.

Jorginho also brings a wealth of winning experience with him.

For many of our players, this is the first time they have been in a title race. But adding Jorginho to Jesus, Zinchenko and Partey adds to our top league winning experience.

Trossard has also previously been a league winner – for Genk in Belgium – whilst Tierney, Xhaka and Fabio Vieira have also tasted being champions of their country. And let’s not forget Mo Elneny with his 4 league titles!

We are chasing the league title, and Trossard and Jorginho have been able to make an instant impact.

They might not have been the men fans wanted. They certainly were not the first choices for Edu. But they are turning into the right choices.

And if we win the league this year, Trossard and Jorginho would’ve have played their part.

Keenos

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Jorginho – “The winner that could take Arsenal over the line; bought primarily for Europe”

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On the face of it, the Jorginho transfer is an odd one.

Arsenal’s recent signings have been young and dynamic.

He has struggled in a struggling Chelsea team. And whilst he has never been the most mobile, never been quick, he seems to be slowing down.

And at 31-years-old, he certainly does not fit the criteria of players Arsenal have recently recruited.

So why did Arsenal opt to sign him?

It comes down to Mikel Arteta. He has always liked Jorginho.

In 2018, Manchester City were expected to complete the signing of Jorginho. At the last minute Chelsea swept in to secure the Italian.

At the time, Pep Guardiola’s assistant was Arteta.

A couple of years ago, when Granit Xhaka was on the brink of leaving, Jorginho was top of Arteta’s list. In the end Xhaka stayed.

In a recent interview, Arteta spoke about any player coming to Arsenal this late in the window needed to be “ready to go straight away”.

They had to be Premier League ready, fit, and ready to start at Everton if needed. And the first choice for that was Moises Caicedo. We ended up with Jorginho.

Whilst he is the wrong profile in terms of age and dynamism, he does fit what Arteta needs now – someone who will not need to settle in.

Over 200 games in England, he will need no time to settle down. He will probably not move from his current abode. And I would imagine he already knows Arsenal’s Brazilian contingent on a social basis.

He is an Arteta type of player.

Fantastic on the ball, he thrives in a posession based system. He is also a leader and a winner.

It was only 15 months ago that he was named the 3rd best player in the world, finishing behind Lionel Messi and Robert Lewandowski in the Ballon d’Or.

The same year he was also named UEFA Player of the Year and was in both the UEFA Euro 2020 Team of the Tournament and UEFA Champions League Squad of the Season. He was also named in the FIFA FIFPro World11.

In 2021, he was key as Chelsea won the Champions League and Italy won the European Championships. That same year he was also part of the team that won the European Super Cup and World Club Cup.

When you look at his credentials, he could just be the winner to take Arsenal over the line.

It left a lot of fans mystified. But there is some solid theory behind it. And it is mainly Europe.

Midfield is where we lack depth.

Xhaka and Thomas Partey’s are fantastic. But there is not much behind them.

Mohamed Elneny is a solid professional but likely out for the season. Albert Sambi Lokonga has flattered to deceive. At the time of writing he is being linked with a loan move out of the club.

We have a maximum of 26 games left in the league and Europe. I expect us to continue the rotation policy in Europe.

But with no adequate cover for Xhaka and Partey, the squad situation meant they would both likely have to play in Europe.

Jorginho’s recruitment means that we can keep protecting Partey for the league. And then the choice is still there to play Lokonga (if he stays) instead of Xhaka.

When you realise Jorginho has been bought primarily for Europe, to allow us to rest Partey mid-week, then you understand his recruitment.

Yes, we all would have preferred Caicedo, Declan Rice or Martin Zubimendi. But those deals could not be done. I am sure we will go again for them in the summer.

The choice ended up being “no one or Jorginho”. And at £12m on a 1.5 year deal, the Italian-Brazilian does not take too much out of the pot for the summer.

Every game Jorginho plays is one less Partey has to. And protecting Partey is what wins us the League.

Keenos