Jorginho admits “every player wants to play” at Arsenal
LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 03: Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal, celebrates victory after the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Manchester United at Emirates Stadium on September 03, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
Jorginho remains confident of making an impact at Arsenal, stating that he wants to compete for a starting spot and, ideally, become a regular starter.
Since joining us in the winter, he has made 16 appearances, starting nine of them.
He has yet to start a game this season; of the 540 minutes he could have played this season (in the league and Champions League) if he were a first-choice option, he has only played 36 minutes as a late substitute.
One may argue that he ought to discuss with Arteta his role in the team, but the Italian insists he isn’t concerned about his future at the Emirates.
Instead, he tells the Sun that he will continue to do what he needs to do on the training pitch with the aim of earning a spot in our starting 11.
“I have a very good relationship with Mikel,” Jorginho told the Sun “He doesn’t need to explain anything to me. All I need to do is stay calm, work hard every day, and show him that I’m ready to play.
“For me, knocking on the manager’s door has never been the right thing to do. I have always done the talking on the pitch; chattering has never been my thing.
“I feel good, and I am happy at Arsenal, but it’s obvious that every player wants to play. If you look back on all the teams I played for, I always had to fight to get my place.
“Nothing has ever been gifted to me; I had to sweat a lot. I always had to work my socks off, you know? The club’s project is to keep growing, and the recent transfer window proved it. At the end of the day, what counts is that Arsenal are collecting points and that the team is doing well.”
Declan Rice’s arrival last summer undoubtedly altered the dynamic of our midfield. He has brought some calm and composure to our team, and while he will play an important role in our plans this season, he will need to be rested at times, and it is then that Jorginho will get his moment.
Jorginho’s experience, having won the Europa League, Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, FIFA Club World Cup, and European Championship with Italy, could be beneficial to Arteta and the team as we attempt to win every competition this season.
