Arsenal will be the brightest star on the Premier League tree on Christmas Day if they win or draw against Liverpool on Saturday night when they visit Anfield.
The Gunners will play in successive campaigns throughout the holiday season if they manage to avoid losing, but it will be difficult against a Liverpool team that defeated West Ham in the middle of the week with five goals.
A Jurgen Klopp squad that plays as well as Mikel Arteta’s team did in their 0-0 draw with Manchester United one week ago should easily win all three points. It will be difficult if they get a rampaging Anfield outfit, though.
If Jorginho is healthy, one way they might provide themselves more protection would be to release him, forcing Declan Rice to take on a different duty.
Declan Rice’s new position
After choosing the red of Arsenal over claret and blue last summer, the former West Ham player has been nothing short of extraordinary.
The midfielder has quickly elevated to the status of one of the team’s most vital members. Rice has been a behemoth, a titan, and a monster in the midfield. Arsenal is a stronger team when the England player is on the pitch.
It wasn’t even necessary to prioritise improving their midfield during the previous window, but you can’t turn down a player of Rice’s calibre.
In larger games, Arteta has favoured a double layer of stability, but for the most part, the 24-year-old has operated as a lone pivot in the base of midfield. In fact, he had been positioned a little bit more forward as a left 8 against Manchester City, Chelsea, and Newcastle this season.
In addition to allowing Rice to descend deeper, this releases his natural attacking impulses. He embodies a box-to-box function in this capacity, which we did witness in the closing moments against Brighton. The £100 million signing rushed into the penalty area, but his effort was stopped after he picked up the ball on the left and darted past Pascal Gross.
In a replay of Rice’s masterpiece, Arsenal may sign a “dream” £50 million striker.
The 26-year-old may be the precise striker that Arsenal needs in this campaign.
It all relies on Jorginho’s fitness, but that lanky athleticism may be crucial to getting the game started against Liverpool.
Updates about Jorginho’s physical condition
Arteta expressed optimism during the pre-match news conference that the Italian, who missed Brighton due to a foot issue, would be ready for the weekend.
It is hoped that the Spaniard, who spoke to football.london, will be alright for Liverpool since he is getting “better”.
It would be ideal to link the £12 million Chelsea acquisition with Rice if he passes a last-minute fitness test. Despite losing to Newcastle, the north Londoners were victorious in their previous big game attempts against Man City and Chelsea, with the England hero even scoring in the tie at Stamford Bridge.
Jorghinho’s performance thus far this season
According to FBRef, Jorginho has been playing similarly to Chelsea midfielder Moises Caicedo, which may come as a surprise given that the Chelsea star is the seventh most similar player in all of Europe’s top five leagues this season.
chelsea, aston villa, hotspur, tottenham, moises caicedoPostecoglou, Douglas, Luz.
The Gunners were enmeshed in a drama to sign the Brighton-based Ecuadorian about a year ago. He eventually remained put on the south coast until joining the Blues last summer, despite a couple of bids—one of which was for a whopping £70 million.
Granted, not many Arsenal supporters were thrilled with Jorghinho’s arrival as a backup in January 2023, but he’s shown to be an especially reliable player.
Few players in today’s game are more adept at calling the plays and dodging the media, and the Italian also contributes to the defence. Just six midfielders who played in the top division for more than ten ninety minutes this season recovered more balls per ninety than Jorginho.
PL Midfielders 2022–2023 have recovered the most balls.
participant
Recoveries of balls (per 90)
1 Rodri, who plays for Man City
9.32
Secondly, Idrissa Gueye (Everton)
9:30
3 West Ham’s Declan Rice
9.18
4 Fred, Manchester United
9.14
Man United’s #5 Casemiro
8.69
Norgaard, Christian #6 (Brentford)
8.42
Jorginho, the #7 (Chelsea / Arsenal)
8.38
Statistics from FBRef.
Jorginho has also shown he is well worth the £12 million that Edu and company paid for him in January, especially when compared to the previously mentioned Caicedo.
Moises Caicedo vs. Jorginho: 2023–2024 Premier League
Stat (according to 90)
Jorginho
The Caicedo
Accomplish Success
90.8%
90.4%
advancing passes
8.37
4.92
Shot-producing Moves
1.86
1.74
Wins Tackles
0.70%
1.14
Wins Tackles – Defensive Third
0.93%
0.98%
Interceptions & Tackles
3.02
2.88
Carriers Progressive
0.70%
0.61%
Statistics from FBRef.
As you can see, the two don’t differ much in measures that are crucial to their location on the pitch. For Arsenal, it’s been a game-changing acquisition that might help Rice’s career at the Emirates Stadium.
Jorghinho must play if he is fit for today’s game, giving his midfield partner a more advanced and new role.
