Arsenal star Jorginho has seen his popularity at the club dramatically rise in recent weeks after some outstanding performances.
The veteran has been used on a fairly irregular basis, coming into the team for games against tougher opposition for more control, and he has been excellent in recent weeks.
Jorginho was again one of the best players on the pitch as Arsenal strolled to a 4-1 victory over Newcastle, having come back into the lineup after being benched for Leandro Trossard against West Ham, Burnley and Porto.
Fans are starting to appreciate what the former Chelsea midfielder brings to the team, and his display against Newcastle showed that his usefulness extends beyond sporadic appearances against tougher sides.
Jorginho dispels myth about Arsenal starting role
Speaking on the Arsenal Beat Podcast, journalist Jordan Davies highlighted how Jorginho can be useful off the bench to see out games, as well as from the start.
“I think there’s this myth that Jorginho can only be used in either big games like against Liverpool, when we needed more control, or when there’s a bit more dominance,” he stated.
“I do think he can play in most games. It’s just about having the legs, and when you’re up against a midfield that is a bit quicker, or with a faster pace, you want Rice, Odegaard, maybe Havertz in there for a bit of physicality.
“Jorginho isn’t the tallest of players. I think it’s going to be vitally important for them to manage his minutes and his impact, but he is also a great bench player, and players don’t want to hear that, but he is incredible when coming off the bench.
“The amount of times he’s come on, barring Porto, and has seen out a game or helped nick a late win, I think he’s crucial. He’s such a useful player for Mikel Arteta in so many ways, as long as he stays fit, so it’s a great weapon for Mikel to have.”
Jorginho is vital in many different roles
Although his performance against Porto was somewhat disappointing, it did highlight how useful he is to Mikel Arteta, that he could appear as a substitute in a tough away game with the scores tied.
Despite being perceived as someone to just add more experience in bigger games, the quality of his passing means that he would be useful against most sides.
His display against Newcastle saw him distribute the ball superbly from midfield, helping create chances, and despite his lack of size against a physical team, he oozed class in breaking down a deep block.
Newcastle were very different opponents to Liverpool, but he was one of the best players in both games, and this shows that despite his recent gain in affection, he is still somewhat underrated as a footballer.
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