Ian Wright admits the Arsenal hero fears teams will ‘target’ Jorginho the deeper Mikel Arteta’s squad go in the Champions League after he was ‘ineffective’ against FC Porto.
The north London natives will learn their opponent for the quarter-finals of UEFA’s elite club competition this Friday, March 15. UEFA will conduct the draw for the next stage, along with the semi-finals and even the Champions League final, from 11:00 GMT in Nyon, Switzerland.
So, boss Arteta could know Arsenal’s potential route to the 2023/24 Champions League final at Wembley on June 1. The Gunners are striving to reach the UEFA showpiece for only their second time ever. This season is even their first appearance in the quarter-finals in 14 years.
Arsenal icon Wright felt Jorginho was ‘ineffective’ against Porto
A heroic display by on-loan Brentford goalkeeper David Raya secured Arsenal a 4-2 win over Porto on penalties in the last 16. Leandro Trossard hauled the Gunners level on aggregate at 1-1 after magic from Martin Odegaard. But Porto were happy to drag the game to penalties.
Odegaard, Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice scored each of Arsenal’s four penalties against Porto, while Raya saved Wendell and Galeno’s attempts. But Wright was somewhat surprised that Arteta took Jorginho off in the 83rd minute given the possibility of spot-kicks.
Wright fears Champions League sides will start to target Jorginho
Jorginho started to look leggy towards the end of regular time and he made way for Gabriel Jesus. The 32-year-old had shown flashes of his experience after starting the second-leg. But Arteta sacrificed Jorginho as the Italian had failed to unlock Porto’s stern defensive line.
Arsenal legend Wright also goes as far as saying Jorginho was ‘ineffective’ against Porto and he could now prove problematic. The Highbury hero fears teams will ‘target’ the 50-cap Italy star the further Arsenal go in the Champions League as Jorginho proved to be the weak link.
He told his Wrighty’s House podcast: “The problem I feel we might have is that if Jorginho is playing in those games – I think the more that’s on the line and the more we need to control games, the more Jorginho has a chance of playing – so, I think people will cater for him.
“And people will watch this game and think, ‘hmm…’ In the end, they took Jorginho off and remember, he’s a penalty taker.
“He was so ineffective today because he did not get the chance to turn and do his stuff. I think teams will probably target that because that has really curtailed us.”
Jorginho has scored 42 of his 50 career penalties for club and country, outside of shootouts. Yet just one of those penalty strikes have been with Arsenal when the Imbituba, Brazil-born technician converted against RC Lens in November. It is Jorginho’s only penalty with Arsenal.
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