ARSENAL NEWCASTLE BY JORG! HE’S A5 TOUCH OF CLASS
He may be a bit-part player, but midfield maestro Jorginho has big influence on title charge
JORGINHO was not signed by Arsenal as a player for all opponents.
The holding midfielder arrived from Chelsea 13 months ago with specific games in mind – those requiring more craft and guile than physical prowess.
Such as Saturday night’s annihilation of a miserable Newcastle.
Kai Havertz, who followed him from Stamford Bridge in the summer, described the Italian as world class after.
But it was a line within Mikel Arteta’s post-match remarks that stood out about a footballer who has often been maligned for his lack of pace but lauded for his speed of thought.
“He’s a top player,” Arteta said. “Especially when opponents have certain behaviours and set-ups. The way I imagined the game, he was going to have a big impact.”
The key lay in Arsenal’s start. They immediately set the tempo, monopolising possession and territory.
And 10 minutes before half-time, Jorginho had had more touches (65) than Newcastle’s six midfield and forward players combined (59).
Eddie Howe’s side finally began to put some passes together approaching the interval but the damage was done – largely thanks to the clever Italian at the base of the Gunners’ midfield three.
Yet this was only Jorginho’s sixth league start of the season and second since mid-december, while his inclusion offered Declan Rice an opportunity to play in a more advanced role.
With Rice the man for every match, Jorginho’s plug-in-and-play job means that whether Arsenal finish first or third in the table, it is hard to argue against them being better than last season.
“When he’s not playing consistently,
credit to him because he was magnificent again,” Arteta added.
Sven Botman’s own goal started the rout, added to by Havertz in the first half and Bukayo Saka and Jakub Kiwior after the break, with only Joe Willock’s late reply a consolation for Howe’s men.
After such a dominant outing, there may be a temptation to argue Jorginho must retain his starting spot.
But there is a clear sense that Arsenal’s fringe players are fully committed to the manager’s system-first principles and Jorginho’s own summation afterwards, with more than a sprinkle of humility, pointed to that.
“All I do is try to make things easier for my team,” he said. “When I go out there and I can do that, I’m really happy because to see the team pushing and scoring goals and having fun, enjoying being together on the pitch with these fans, it’s just incredible.”
Almost as incredible as their run of form since the winter break. Jorginho joked that what happened on their Dubai training camp in early January “was a secret” but Arsenal have won all six league matches since with an aggregate score of 25-3.
The difference, he said, simply lies in putting opportunities away.
“We were creating but we weren’t finishing the chances that we were creating,” he added.
“Then something clicked – the connection between the players, with the staff, with the fans – it’s just an amazing feeling all together and then things turn your way.”
The routine skewering of league opponents was interrupted by last week’s Champions League defeat away to Porto.
But with that and the anger from November’s reverse fixture, which Newcastle won 1-0, still simmering, Jorginho added: “You could see the team was really angry and we showed that out there. We wanted to go hard.”
ARSENAL (4-3-3): Raya 7; White 7, Saliba 7, Gabriel 7, Kiwior 7; Odegaard 7 (Smith Rowe 76), Jorginho 8 (Elneny 89), Rice 7; Saka 8 (Nelson 76), Havertz 8 (Nketiah 76), Martinelli 7 (Trossard 64, 6).
NEWCASTLE (4-3-3): Karius 6; Trippier 5, Schar 4, Botman 4 (Lascelles 73), Livramento 5 (Burn 73); Longstaff 5, Guimaraes 6 (Willock 73), Miley 5; Almiron 5 (Murphy 64, 5), Isak 5 (Barnes 64, 5), Gordon 6.
WILLOCK’S HEARTACHE NOW OVER
ALAN SMITH
JOE WILLOCK hopes his “very heartbreaking” injury woes are a thing of the past.
The Newcastle forward’s goalscoring return to action after three months out with an Achilles injury was a “bittersweet feeling” as he came off the bench to head in a consolation.
But the 24-year-old, who moved to Tyneside from Arsenal, says the Toon must draw a line under a heavy defeat before tomorrow’s FA Cup fifth-round tie away to Blackburn.
“It’s been a long journey for me on the sideline,” said Willock (inset). “It’s been very heartbreaking, probably one of the hardest times of my career.
“I’ve not been with my team-mates, who I love so much, and they’ve helped me a lot. There’s a real brotherhood at the club.
“It means a lot to come back and be on the pitch with them.
“I wanted to win but I’m happy to be back. Hopefully I can stay back and stay fit.”
Newcastle have taken just 11 points from the past 12 games and shipped 23 goals in their eight most recent fixtures.
Willock insists there were positives to take from North London but with their chances of qualifying for Europe hanging by a thread, the cup trip to Ewood Park may be vital.
“It’s a big game for our season, we have to put this behind us,” Willock added.