Arsenal have Douglas Luiz alternative who can save them millions in the January transfer window
There was lots of talk about a poor atmosphere at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday, but one man who undoubtedly brought the noise was Jorginho. Only a blow to the back of the head after a stray stud from Jakub Kiwior could silence the Italian, and even then as he trudged off the pitch with blood pouring from the back of his head, he could still be seen encouraging his teammates to see out the final few minutes of their 3-1 win over Burnley without him.
This is emblematic of the influence the Italian has had since his unpopular deadline day arrival in January this year. At the time Arsenal fans had grown giddy over the prospect of luring Moises Caicedo away from Brighton, but there is an argument that the £10million signing from Chelsea may actually have been a better piece of business.
Ask anyone around the club, and they will tell you that Jorginho's influence is huge. The Brazil-born Italian has a strong bond with much of Arsenal's South American core, but he is viewed as someone who will speak to anybody. He is regularly heard dispensing advice to younger players about matters both on and off the pitch, and strikes the perfect balance between jokey fun and professional dedication in training.
His importance doesn't end at London Colney though. Jorginho has started seven of Arsenal's last eight matches in all competitions and if you watch closely you will see that he is an extension of Arteta's intense personal coaching on the pitch. Players will look to him for instructions at set-pieces, and he will not be afraid to criticise a teammate for not being in the right position to receive a pass.
Perhaps the greatest testament to Jorginho's impact at Arsenal is how seamlessly this has all happened. It's easy to forget that
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