Mikel Arteta will finally be hoping to end an 20-year run of coming up short in the Premier League for Arsenal this season, going one step further than last term.
Arsenal have improved so much under Arteta, a team now renowned for their ruthless defending and a side with the attacking prowess to match.
That being said, as was also the case in their Champions League quarter-final against Bayern Munich, it was concluded that this Arsenal squad still lacked the necessary experience.
Arsenal evidently aren’t lacking any ability on the pitch, but have struggled to quite get over the line in any competition in order to justify Arteta’s success with trophies.
Jorginho told he can be Arsenal’s new Martin Keown behind the scenes
That being said, when speaking via the Daily Star, Arsenal icon Ray Parlour – who was part of the Invincibles team team who last lifted the Premier League title in 2003/04, suggested there was now someone who can make a difference.
Parlour suggested that Jorginho could be crucial this season, playing a ‘bit-part’ role in a similar way to Martin Keown used to.
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Keown wasn’t a starter for Arsene Wenger’s side during their unbeaten season, but was still crucial behind the scenes.
Parlour said: “Mikel has a young squad but he has added that bit of experience as well. Jorginho will be a bit-part player this season but, if you need that experience, he does a great job for you – as we saw in the North London derby win at Spurs.
“He knows he won’t be playing all the time but you can see the togetherness he brings into the dressing room. Going back to the Invincibles, we had players like Martin Keown, who didn’t play a lot but were very, very important for the young players.
“You’re going to have ups and downs in a season. It’s a rollercoaster ride. But when you’re down, you have to get up again as soon as you can.
“Experienced players like Jorginho, who have played in big games, in Champions League and Euro finals, can help the younger ones when they’re down or having a bad time.”
Arsenal will already be planning their Jorginho replacement
Of course, should Jorginho win the Premier League with Arsenal this season, he might bow out on a high.
The Italian is set to be out of contract once again in the summer, and it remains to be seen if Arsenal will offer him another extension.
Given Thomas Partey’s contract is also set to expire, Edu has a chance to revamp Arsenal’s midfield, which could potentially mean that the club chase someone like Martin Zubimendi again.
In fact, Arsenal are being linked with the next Jorginho, a teammate of Riccardo Calafiori who the Gunners are said to be considering a move for.
It’ll be interesting to see how Arteta and Edu play it, and if Partey leaves then it wouldn’t be a surprise if Jorginho remained for one more year given all the reasons Parlour lists.
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