The midfielder for Aston Villa is reportedly worth £60 million to the Gunners in January, but they may already have a far less expensive option.
Much was made of the poor atmosphere at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday, but one man who certainly made the noise was Jorginho. Only a blow to the head after a stray needle from Jakub Kiwior managed to silence the Italian and even as he ran off the field with blood pouring from the back of his head, he was still seen urging his teammates to see him. the final minutes of their 3-1 win over Burnley without him. It will be a symbolic impact on the Italian in his unpopular deadline day arrival this January. At the time, the prospect of luring Moises Caicedo away from Brighton sent Arsenal fans into a frenzy, but Chelsea’s £10m deal was said to be better business.
Anyone in the club will tell you how much of an impact Jorginho has had. Though he is seen as someone who can talk to anybody, the Italian, who was born in Brazil, has a close relationship with a large portion of Arsenal’s South American fan base. He is frequently heard giving younger players advice on and off the field, and in training, he strikes the ideal mix between lighthearted humor and serious commitment.
What’s perhaps most impressive about Jorginho’s influence at Arsenal is how smoothly everything has gone together. It’s easy to forget that, only 11 months prior, Arsenal supporters were in a panic when Thomas Partey suffered yet another injury during the team’s 1-0 FA Cup loss to Manchester City and there was no one to replace him save Albert Sambi Lokonga. After Jorginho joined the team, such problems were virtually immediately resolved, and Arsenal’s defensive midfield position has improved from being one of the worst to a position of significant strength.
“It’s a pleasure to have him,” Arteta remarked of the Italian following Arsenal’s victory over Sevilla thanks to his pass that split the defence. “He has a huge impact on the rest of the squad. He complements our preferred style of play. He’s incredibly smart, picks things up quickly, and improves everyone around him.
But queries haven’t ceased despite that. After Partey’s second muscle injury kept him out of action for the entirety of 2023, Arsenal is considering their options for the number six position. It’s safe to assume that Jorginho is not it at 31 years old.
In light of this, it is not unexpected that the Gunners are keeping an eye on Douglas Luiz and Martin Zubimendi in anticipation of a possible January transfer. But it would be very hard to pull off any bargain. While Luiz is expected to cost more than £60 million after signing a contract deal with Aston Villa barely a year ago, Zubimendi seems content at Real Sociedad.
Jorginho might be Arsenal’s best option going forward as they begin talks to acquire a player in this position. The Gunners will be aiming to buy from a position of strength, unlike previous seasons, when Partey and Mohamed Elneny depart for the African Cup of Nations in January, leaving the Italian and Declan Rice as choices. Edu will be able to leave the winter market knowing that he has enough high-quality choices to scrape by if the right deal isn’t available.
On Jorginho’s future, no decision has been taken as of yet. Although Arsenal has the option to extend his contract by a another year, it expires in the summer. Jorginho is the ideal player to provide Arteta with what he needs at the base of the Gunners midfield for the time being, even though this may not be the best option in the long run.