According to Sky Sports, as cited by Daily Mail, Arsenal are interested in the services of Jorginho. The Chelsea midfielder has emerged as the latest target for Gunners, as Mikel Arteta continues his search for a reliable holding midfielder. Jorginho, in that regard, has been identified as the desired alternative for the club’s top targets in Thomas Partey and Houssem Aouar.
What Can Jorginho Bring To The Table?
Jorginho joined Chelsea back in 2018, in a €57 million move from Napoli. He was the desired target for then-coach Maurizio Sarri, whose possession-based game needed reliable passers in the hub of midfield.
The Italian provided exactly that, becoming a key component in the Chelsea midfield. He made 37 league appearances in his debut campaign in the Premier League, impressing the onlookers with his ability to distribute possession.
Indeed, the 28-year-old attained a pass completion rate of 88%, with an average of whopping 84 attempted passes per game.
Jorginho’s game is not only restricted to passing, however, as he is also a decent tackler. Last season, for example, the midfielder attempted almost four tackles per game.
Although he did struggle with his form under Frank Lampard, the ex-Napoli star is a capable individual when it comes to offering cover for the backline. He is especially good at reading the game, having averaged over two interceptions per game last season, making him a well-rounded defensive midfielder.
How Can Jorginho Aid Arsenal?
Jorginho’s potential addition to Arsenal could serve as a breath of fresh air for Mikel Arteta, who lacks reliable options in midfield at the moment.
Matteo Guendouzi and Lucas Torreira have both been linked with a move away from Emirates after falling out of favour over the past 12 months. As a result, the Spaniard has Mohamed Elneny as the only alternative to the midfield duo of Dani Ceballos and Granit Xhaka.
The pair has done extremely well under Arteta. But, the arrival of someone like Jorginho could further strengthen the Arsenal midfield, perhaps to the point where they could be in a position to properly challenge for a top-four finish in the league.
The Italian international has the experience of playing in the Premier League, unlike other targets like Aouar and Partey. But more importantly, his passing oriented style of play and ability to read the game could potentially make him an upgrade over Xhaka.
However, it remains to be seen whether or not Chelsea are willing to offload their star midfielder to a direct rival. Besides, the Gunners simply cannot afford to spend over €40 million, especially knowing the fact that they could sign someone like Partey for €50 million.
Stat courtesy: Whoscored
