After Arsenal’s 3-1 win over Liverpool today, Mikel Arteta was full of praise for his team, and in particular Jorginho whose man of the match performance was instrumental in taking all three points.
The Italian international was superb, in what was probably his best performance in an Arsenal shirt, using all his experience and quality to help us to what was a hugely important result.
The 32 year old hadn’t started a league game since November, and the Arsenal manager revealed he’d played through the pain to help the team as he’s been suffering from an ongoing (but unspecified) physical issue.
“I’ve always said that he’s an example, a role model,” said Arteta.
“He’s been in a lot of pain as well, because he has an issue that he’s been carrying for months.
“He didn’t want to stop, he’s been playing with that, he’s been training as the first one in and the last one out, and for all the kids, for everybody at the club, you want to look in the mirror at somebody, just look at him and how he behaves.
“He’s won everything, and if you ask him not to play, or to play one minute like last week, he’s happy to go there. You ask him to play 98 minutes at the rhythm and he’s able to do that, so I’m really lucky to have players like this.
“Jorgi’s a really intelligent player, his biggest quality is that he makes the people around him better, he connects everybody, and he was unbelievable. I think he was man of the match.”
And speaking to the official Arsenal website as the celebration police poured scorn on the Gunners players, staff and fans celebrating a big win, Jorginho himself urged the supporters to make the most of it.
“We should enjoy this moment as well,” he said.
“We need to think about the next one but at the moment we need to enjoy this moment because that’s how it is I think, you focus on the next one the day from tomorrow.
“The supporters, they were behind us and we could feel it and it was just an amazing, amazing football match and an amazing day for us.
“It was really hard work, if we didn’t do that – we couldn’t win for sure. We knew we had to push the limit to beat them because they are a great team and that’s what we did and I think we deserved the win.”
I was sceptical when we got him, but he’s always been productive when he’s played. Contrast Jorginho with a certain other CM who is always unavailable.
The best ability is availability.
I agree. Moreover, regarding the game, I must admit although we got 3 delicious points; Pep must be salivating en route to another title. Both Arsenal & Liverpool FC would continue to show inconsistencies towards the finish line with lapses of concentration & lack of ruthlessness. Whereas City would usually pick up speed & finish off in grand style.
True. Ticking off another box for Pep. The EPL seems so difficult, but in reality for Pep it’s a mugs game.
To be fair, Cedric is always available…
It’s a bit bizarre the way that some fans seem to treat Partey with scorn, derision and impatience for what must be a pretty unbearable injury nightmare that is presumably no fault of his own. Compared to, say, Rosicky, who always seemed to have fan sympathy, it’s weird and a bit shitty.
No need to contrast Jorginho with anyone, he was great in his own right! Immense performance from him, he was all over the place, and his composure and passing was just class.
As for our other CM, I really hope we have him back, and he settles back in, as we could really use him in this tough run in. No need to slack him off, I am sure he wants to play as much as any other, just pray his luck turns NOW.
I love our team. Love ’em.
Jorginhooo jorginho oo jorginhooo
Maybe Zubamendi is the answer but if we could get a younger version of Jorgi we be laughing for years to come . Rice in the 8 is deadly even tho he talked about being a 6 . Jorgi is stitching things together but we need to use him wisely. I’d play him again west ham but be good to have Partey back too . Hopefully Kai, marti and saka gain that purple patch confidence and we steam on. That’s the end of liverpools title charge, they taking eye off ball with all of field stuff but haven’t any midfield… Read more »
Imagine having him in his peak years. Doesn’t catch your eye but when you watch him play for your own team, it’s crazy how influential and intelligent he is.
Great fucking win! GTFin gooners. Back in it with a bang. Need to keep strong and believe ( and hopefully we don’t get fucked over by the scheißters running the league)!
It feels as though jorginho is a rare case of people actually forgetting how good he is when he’s out. Like the opposite of absence makes the heart grow fonder.
Really useful player to have, love his dynamic with Rice. And seems like a great character in interviews.
… ‘you want to look in the mirror at somebody, just look at him and how he behaves’
What’s Jorginho doing in my bathroom?!
…and sorry Jorginho, stop doing that in my bathroom – it’s just weird!
… and why do I have to look at him via the mirror?
Will I turn to stone or something?
I think I’m over thinking this!
I thought this was a very odd remark. But wonder if it’s a translation thing. Maybe in spain they say this. And I kind of get that. You look in the mirror and instead of seeing yourself you see the thing you might hope to be.
I dunno, has he got snakes for hair?
HA HA, MADE YOU LOOK STONE BOY!
This mini thread of yours tamed my day!❤️
No problem with the MOTM but it is time for anti Havertz so called suppporters to lay off the man who had a very good match yesterday and not for the first time.
Agree, sick of it. He was at least a 7.5 rating, lot of influential ‘unseen’ work throughout the game