How Jorginho can aid Arsenal’s Premier League title charge

After failing to secure the big-money signing of Moises Caicedo, Arsenal moved for Chelsea midfielder Jorginho. It’s a move that’s sparked division among supporters, but there are perks to the deal.

It may seem like an underwhelming signing to most, if not all Arsenal fans, especially after having bids rejected for Ecuadorian rising star Caicedo. But there is no denying that Arsenal and their hierarchy have always appreciated Jorginho.

It was reported in The Athletic in that rollercoaster of a summer window in 2020, that Arsenal ‘wanted two’ of Thomas Partey, Houssem Aouar and Jorginho but ended up with only one and that Jorginho was never ‘simply a backup option’ as he is ‘greatly admired by Arsenal’s technical staff, including Arteta’.

How Jorginho can provide what Arsenal need in their title bid

So, what can the 31-year-old bring? For one, he’s a technician on the ball and is press resistant; a running theme with Arsenal’s signings in recent years. There’s no denying his quality on the ball, with the midfielder achieving a pass completion rate of 88.3% according to FBRef. He also ranks in the highest ninth percentile of midfielders across Europe’s top five leagues for progressive passes: 5.44 per 90. Silky.

After Mohammed Elneny’s injury, it was certain that Arsenal wanted a midfielder that can cover the defensive midfield position. Jorginho? Loves a tackle. At Euro 2021, he set a record for the most interceptions made at a single tournament (25) according to Squawka. He also ranked third in final third entries (71). Big game player. You can’t overlook his 2021: UEFA Men’s Player of the Year, European Champion, and Champions League winner; playing a crucial role in Thomas Tuchel’s successes at Chelsea but an imperative role for Italy too. Winner. That winning mentality is another trait that could elevate this side even more.

There are definitely positives with this signing, but also negatives. There’s a reason why Chelsea are letting him go this late in the window and buying a £100m midfielder instead. Being a physical phenom is an attribute accredited to most defensive midfielders, but Jorginho doesn’t fit that mould and never has. He’s just not that player.

However, his tactical nous makes up for those missing pieces. So, instead, expect him to keep things ticking over, controlling the tempo and picking off the opposition when possible. Such traits are paramount to excel as Arteta’s #6.

Nevertheless, the frustrations of Arsenal fans are certainly warranted.

Caicedo could’ve been the catalyst to spearhead this young, vibrant Arsenal side to a first title win in 19 years. However, it’s important to be rational. A summer move for long-term target Declan Rice is looming if reports are to be believed (as long as Todd Boehly doesn’t hear about it) and a £75m move in January for another central midfielder could have caused disruptions to that.

However, is a 31-year-old Jorginho really the only alternative Arsenal could have come up with? Well, he’s certainly still got enough quality to play and be a rotational option for the next 18 months. There was an insistence from Arsenal that a midfielder must come in this window, so let’s hope that he is no Trojan horse, and instead, he will be on the ride with the red side of north London to a potential Premier League title.