Mikel Arteta "really happy" with Jorginho amid contract uncertainty
The former Chelsea man was a late arrival in the January 2023 window to provide cover to Thomas Partey and Granit Xhaka after Mohamed Elneny suffered a season-ending knee injury.
Jorginho made 24 appearances for Arsenal in his first half-season at the Emirates, scoring one goal and setting up two more, and he earned nine Premier League starts in the heart of Arteta's engine room.
However, the Italy international has only played a peripheral role in the 2023-24 campaign due to the additions of Declan Rice and Kai Havertz, who have normally linked arms with captain Martin Odegaard in the midfield triumvirate.
Jorginho has been restricted to just five Premier League starts this season, although his most recent appearance from the first whistle against Liverpool saw him take home the Man of the Match award from that 3-1 success.
The 32-year-old made three interceptions and two tackles in the middle of the park, while he also topped the standings for accurate passes (45) and passes into the final third (24) as he dictated the tempo throughout.
Jorginho is currently due to become a free agent at the end of the season and is free to open talks with foreign clubs, although his Emirates contract does include a one-year extension option.
The ex-Napoli man has been tipped to return to Serie A during the latter stages of his career, but he is also doing his coaching badges with Arsenal's Hale End academy and recently obtained his UEFA B licence.
Speaking to reporters ahead of Sunday's Premier League London derby with West Ham United, Arteta was
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