Jorginho issues reality check to Arsenal team-mates after surviving Wolves scare
Jorginho called on Arsenal to be more ruthless and goal hungry after they survived a late scare from Wolves.
It seems like a crazy thing to say about the Premier League leaders after they had become only the fifth team from Europe's top-five leagues to top the 100-goal mark in 2023. But it is a reflection of how Mikel Arteta's team judge themselves.
They no longer measure performance in terms of what is required to finish in the top four, their yardstick is the qualities needed to be champions. Jorginho knows what that takes, having won the game's biggest prizes at Chelsea and on the international stage with Italy.
After scoring twice in the opening 13 minutes, Arsenal looked set to repeat Wednesday's 6-0 Champions League rout of Lens. Instead, they walked a tightrope between seeing the game out and falling into complacency.
That is why as much focus was given to the nervy nine minutes they faced after Matheus Cunha made it 2-1 at the Emirates, than the near dominant 87 minutes that preceded it. Jorginho said: "It is a mindset to be honest because you have the game completely under control and all of a sudden you stop doing the simple things that you need to keep doing.
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"The game looks easy and then you start to play around, trying to enjoy the ball but at the end we need to put in our mind that we enjoy scoring goals and not just playing around and bringing pressure and situations that we don't need.
"Yes, I think we need to be more ruthless, especially in the Premier League, the game is never finished. When it is 1-0, 2-0 you have to think you need three, four and respect the game."
Oleksandr Zinchenko was at fault for Wolves' late goal (Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC)Nobody personified the harsh level of reflection the Gunners face if they are to topple champions Manchester City than Oleksandr Zinchenko. Wolves had two big chances in the game and the left-back was responsible for both of them.
He got away with an underhit back-pass at the end of the first half. There was no let-off when Nelson Semedo caught him dribbling out of the penalty area allowing Cunha to curl a left-foot finish past David Raya.
At the other end, Zinchenko's rapid one-two with Gabriel Jesus and pullback allowed Martin Odegaard to sweep in the Gunners' stunning 13th-minute second. It showed why, for now, Arteta is backing the Ukrainian's strengths over his weaknesses but sternly added that his team will learn from this experience.
Bukayo Saka celebrates after scoring in Arsenal's 2-1 win over Wolves (Glyn Kirk/AFP)That said, there was much about Arsenal's performance which reflected the swagger of champions-elect. None more so than Bukayo Saka's sixth-minute opener as he weaved through the eye of a needle courtesy of more outstanding link up play from Jesus and Takehiro Tomiyasu before slotting in his eighth goal of the season.
Jorginho commented: "These types of players find space, they find lines, they create." There was also Gabriel Martinelli chasing back, tackling by his own corner flag, then racing up the other end only to be denied by the post.
Even the response to Wolves goal was strong, with Odegaard sending sub Eddie Nketiah clear only to the upright to come to Wolves' rescue again. Those are the tight margins of error last season's runners-up need to ruthlessly address if they are to achieve their goal.
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