Mikel Arteta now has one major Arsenal decision to make after Liverpool clash

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Arsenal will have a major decision to make over the future of midfielder Jorginho in the coming months.

The Italian international is nearing the end of the 18-month contract he signed when joining from Chelsea in January 2023. The 32-year-old was drafted in to help add some depth and control to the central ranks in the title race.

While the campaign didn’t end with the Premier League trophy, there was renewed hope that the coming season would bring some silverware. The addition of Declan Rice for a club-record transfer fee has brought plenty to the midfield.

It has given Jorginho more of a backseat role, often coming on late to help see the game out. The ex-Chelsea star has played just 489 minutes of Premier League action this season, with five of those being starts.

One of those came against Liverpool at the weekend, in a clash that meant so much in the context of the title race. The Reds were leading by five points, but an impressive 3-1 victory for Arsenal has made the battle at the top even tighter.

Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard all chipped in with goals to seal all three points. While the goal scorers took the limelight though, it was the performance of Jorginho that underpinned the display.

Jorginho contract

Mikel Arteta was full of praise for Jorginho after the match, stating he is “lucky” to have the midfielder in his ranks. It leaves the question over whether he will stay beyond the few months he has remaining on his current contract.

The 32-year-old has stepped up both on and off the pitch when required, while injuries to Thomas Partey and Mohamed Elneny have previously left the side short in the midfield department. If he stays, it could see plenty more impressive performances, while an exit as a free agent would come with the hopes of leaving with a Premier League title to show for it.

Jorginho’s agent, Joao Santos, discussed the situation in November 2023 in an interview with TuttoMercatoWeb. “Everything is at a standstill,” he told the Italian outlet on the midfielder’s future. “We’ll think about it after February. However, the priority remains Arsenal.”

As it stands, with February now here, it seems as though Arsenal will have to make their decision on Jorginho soon. Whether he stays or leaves may well become clearer in the next few weeks.