Recently, Arsenal extended Jorginho’s contract by an additional year, keeping him at the club until the end of the 2024/25 season. Despite being 32 years old and not featuring regularly this season, the Italian midfielder continues to play a crucial role at the Gunners.

Jorginho may not score or assist frequently, nor does he exhibit fierce tackling or deliver eye-catching long passes with high precision. Overall, the former Chelsea star may not embody the attributes typically associated with Arsenal’s finest midfielders, according to fans.

However, when asked about Jorginho, manager Mikel Arteta would immediately point out a quality more important than anything mentioned above that the 32-year-old midfielder possesses. “He makes people around him better. He connects everyone,” the Spanish tactician shared earlier this season.

Above all, it is this “unique” quality of Jorginho’s that has led Arsenal to decide to keep him at the Emirates for another year. While Jorginho may not stand out in terms of technical prowess compared to his teammates, he is the one who maintains Arsenal’s cohesion both on and off the pitch.

Jorginho has extended his 1-year contract with Arsenal

With the wealth of experience he has gained throughout his career, Jorginho is the most experienced player at Arsenal. When he steps onto the field, Jorginho becomes Arteta’s eyes, and when he’s not playing, he acts as another coach for the Gunners, providing instructions to help his teammates position themselves correctly.

“Jorginho embodies what we stand for at Arsenal with his professionalism and success. I know everyone at the club will be delighted that Jorgi will continue with us, not just the players and coaches but all the staff behind the scenes as well,” shared Edu, Arsenal’s technical director.

Jorginho is considered Arteta’s effective assistant

Within Arsenal, the extension of Jorginho’s contract is seen as a natural move. The issue isn’t whether Arsenal offers a new deal to the Brazilian-born midfielder, but rather whether Jorginho wants to accept it. Jorginho himself understands that he won’t be guaranteed regular starting opportunities at the Gunners next season. This means that Jorginho’s decision to stay at the Emirates is because he still feels happy and believes he can contribute to the club’s success in one way or another.

When Jorginho arrived at the Emirates from Chelsea in January 2023, many Arsenal fans initially reacted with skepticism. The concerns were reasonable, as previous players from Chelsea, notably Willian, failed to impress at Arsenal. Moreover, it went against Arsenal’s philosophy of recruiting young, hungry, and fighting players. However, the quiet impact of Jorginho on Arsenal’s overall development is immeasurable.

At its most basic level, Arsenal’s intention is to strengthen their midfield this summer. Losing Jorginho would undoubtedly weaken the Gunners, especially considering the uncertainties surrounding the future of Thomas Partey. The Italian international is one of Arsenal’s wisest signings, and no player or manager would doubt Jorginho’s importance to Arteta’s project. Keeping Jorginho is only beneficial, not harmful, to Arsenal.