Arsenal

Arsenal

Premier League • England

Carragher hints Jorginho Arsenal stay may prove short-lived as former Tottenham boss claims: ‘He won’t get in the team’

Jorginho signs for Arsenal - pic via Arsenal.com

Jamie Carragher has suggested Jorginho may only enjoy a short stint at Arsenal following his deadline day move from Chelsea, while a former Tottenham manager has questioned the wisdom of Mikel Arteta bringing him in.

The Gunners finalised their January transfer window with the capture of Italy midfielder Jorginho. He has signed on an 18-month deal with the option of another 12 months. He moves across London from Chelsea, where he won the Champions League during a productive four-and-a-half-year stay.

Arsenal struck the deal for the 31-year-old once it became apparent that their No 1 target, Moises Caicedo, would not be allowed to leave Brighton. The Gunners saw two offers fail for the Ecuadorian – the second topping £70m – with the Seagulls refusing to negotiate.

And while a Sky Sports News reporter claims the Gunners will try again in the summer, they had to look elsewhere as far as the January window is concerned.

Ultimately, and quite speedily, that led them to Jorginho, who was signed, sealed and delivered in under a 24-hour period. His first interview as a Gunners player has revealed both his shirt number and his reasons for moving to Arsenal.

He will now go into their squad with immediate effect and could debut in Saturday’s game at Everton.

Assessing the factors behind the move, Rio Ferdinand reckons the £12m signing will prove astute business. However, he does not think he will be a regular starter under Arteta.

Pundits split over Arsenal signing Jorginho

“I think it’s a good signing,” Ferdinand told BT Sport. “It’s shrewd.

“I’ve been known to criticise Jorginho. And even just to clarify that, I was criticising him because the way Chelsea played at the beginning when he was there didn’t help him.

“Whatever you think of him, on the ball, he’s a fine passer of the ball, especially cutting through the lines. He keeps it ticking. I don’t see him being a starter for Arsenal, I’ve got to be honest.

“Everything I hear about him as a pro has been positive. Nothing but positive. In the changing room, he’s a leader.”

Former Tottenham and West Ham manager Harry Redknapp, speaking on talkSPORT, had an even stronger view. And he suggests Jorginho isn’t good enough to dislodge Arsenal’s current preferred central midfield duo.

“No, I wouldn’t see where he would fit,” said Redknapp.

“I couldn’t see him getting in the team. He’s obviously a top player, I mean that Arsenal team at the moment, in that starting XI there’s not many places up for grabs in that team.”

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Carragher reckons star will do a job this season for Arsenal

Jamie Carragher had even stronger words. Assessing whether Jorginho is wrong for Arsenal’s style of play, he suggests that perhaps his signing is one to see them through this season. Horses for courses if you like in the title race.

Long term, though, Carragher, is wondering just how long  – if at all – Arsenal will call upon him.

“Arsenal have gone for [Moises] Caicedo, but maybe they cannot get that done from Brighton,” he said. “So in the end, they have gone for Jorginho, who is an interesting one.

“I can totally understand it, but I was listening to people talk about it today, and he is not the sort of style for Arsenal’s play, which is so quick, fast and energetic now and he is the opposite of that and I get that argument.

“But I also think that with maybe 10 games to go in the season, when they might actually need cool heads, when there is a pressure moment and the nerves are coming on in that title run, he may actually be a really good signing in terms of slowing things down with a cool head.

“He is a player that has won the Champions League, he has won a European Championship in the last few years, so he is a top player, there is no doubt about that, but he is a different style of player.

“But I am not saying that is for Arsenal week in, week out forever, but I think that could be a big help for them towards the end of the season when they get nervous.”

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