03 February 2023 , 22:30
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Mikel Arteta insists Arsenal's £12million deadline-day swoop for Jorginho has not bought another Chelsea pensioner with his best days behind him.
Gunners fans did not greet the Italian midfield anchor's arrival at the Emirates with street parties or bunting – even though 31-year-old Jorginho's track record at Stamford Bridge reads like the credits rolling on a Hollywood movie.
Arteta made his move for the 2021 European Footballer of the Year after Mohamed Elneny required knee surgery, which is likely to keep him out for the rest of the season, and Brighton rejected two bids up to £70m for Moises Caicedo.
Discussing past transfer dealings in relation to Jorginho's arrival, the Arsenal boss admitted: “Unfortunately, you don’t always get it right, but we put all the work and intention to make it work - and I am confident that this one will be good.”
The Gunners' recent shopping for Chelsea cast-offs has not been an unqualified success. David Luiz won the FA Cup in 2020 but was rarely accused of presiding over a watertight defence, Willian (one goal in 37 appearances) was a flop and, going further back, William Gallas did not win a trophy in four years at the Emirates.
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But Arteta is convinced Jorginho's leadership will be a priceless asset in a critical month for Arsenal's thrilling title chase. He could be pitched into the bear pit atmosphere of Goodison Park, where Arsenal have lost three and drawn one in their last four visits to relegation-haunted Everton, if Thomas Partey fails to shake off a rib injury.
Is Jorginho a good signing for Arsenal? Have your say in the comments!
Jorginho has moved to Arsenal from Chelsea (Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)Arteta said: “Every time you sign a player, you generate some debate. Maybe they don’t have experience, maybe they are too young, maybe he’s not that well-known or whatever. But we have some criteria and we do a lot of work behind the scenes to try to understand exactly the profile that we need.
“With the latest news on Mo's injury, we needed a player in that position and Jorginho is someone I have always admired, a great character and someone who is going to bring leadership quality.
“He is going to help the team a lot with his intelligence, his personality and the way he understands our way of playing – he is a player that will fit in really well with what we want to do. We knew that in this market, you have to adapt and be flexible and be ready for inconvenience.”
Arsenal have dropped only seven points over the first half of the Premier League campaign – two of them at rock-bottom Southampton, and Arteta recognises the danger awaiting his front-runners at new Everton manager Sean Dyche's baptism of fire.
He is also pained by his former club's struggles, saying: “It hurts, especially because of the years that I had there as a player, the gratitude I feel towards the club, the love I feel towards the club.
“From the bottom of my heart, I hope they can turn this around in the best possible way because everybody who has feelings for Everton knows they are unique, very special and they deserve the best. Everton are going to ask different questions of us to Manchester United in our last league games but, for sure, they will be difficult questions to answer.”
William Gallas was involved in the deal that took Ashley Cole to Chelsea - that transfer only had one winner (Getty Images)Less than two years ago, with football still in lockdown, thousands of fans picketed the Emirates in animated protest against Arsenal owner Stan Kroenke ahead of a dismal home defeat by Everton. Now, the boot is on the other foot, with the Toffees fan base in open revolt against chairman Bill Kenwright and owner Farhad Moshiri.
Arteta observed: “At the moment, we have a very stable and energised atmosphere around the club – but it takes a lot to build it and very little to lose it, so the most important thing is that we play well, win football matches and we'll be fine.
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“I think for any club, when you have ownership, directors, the manager, players and staff all on board, with the same purpose and really pushing in the same direction, it’s very powerful.”
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