There’s a slight chance Arsenal can win the Premier League. However, six games ago, when they were still eight points clear at the top of the table, Arsenal were no doubt favourites to clinch the 2022–23 PL crown. Between then and now, much has changed; the Gunners went on a four-game winless run, failing to beat Liverpool, West Ham, Southampton, and Manchester City before winning their last two games against Chelsea and Newcastle.
That poor run of four games has Arsenal wishing Man City would drop six points for them to walk away with the league title. Paul Merson feels that had Mikel Arteta opted to switch his midfield during that winless run, he would have been in a position where only his team’s results determined whether they won the league. After watching Jorginho dazzle in Arsenal’s last two games, where he has started in place of Thomas Partey, Merson believes the Italian would have easily afforded Arsenal wins rather than the disappointing draws they got.
“I think Mikel Arteta will have learnt lessons from this last month,” Merson told Sky Sports. “Looking back, Jorginho should have started against Southampton
“It was a game Arsenal simply had to win, not by seven or eight goals, just win.
“I know hindsight is crystal clear, but Jorginho was brought in for a reason, and I think he would have helped keep things tight, ensured Southampton didn’t score, and then created chances.
“I was shocked Fabio Vieira, who has not had a great season, played ahead of Jorginho, and Arsenal went on to draw the game.
On why Arsenal’s midfield need Jorginho at this high-stakes time of the season, the ex-Gunner added: “Jorginho manages the game. People say he cannot run, but you don’t have to run; his brain is quick. You’re better off having a quick brain than quick legs.
“You know what the best skill in football is? It isn’t stepovers or flicks; funnily enough, it’s finding your teammates with the ball.
“It’s an unbelievable skill that often goes under the radar. Everyone wants to see players beating seven defenders and scoring amazing solo goals, but the best skill is passing the ball successfully.
“Don’t talk to me about ballers! It’s about keeping the ball, looking after the ball, passing, and moving. Jorginho was man-of-the-match at Newcastle because he did just that.”
Yes, Jorginho could have made the difference, but we can’t cry over spilled milk; the league title may be hard to win this term, but Arsenal can just end the season in style. If Man City drop points, well and good.
As for Arsenal, winning their last three games is a priority, and dropping Jorginho is criminal.
Darren N
Mikel Arteta buzzing after Newcastle United 0-2 Arsenal – Revenge was very sweet..
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Cannot see what ever saw in Fabio.
So wished he would have worked.
But it’s not going to.
Nice touch.
Slow.
Not physical enough.
Think we have to upload him and take a loss.
I ask in genuine curiosity , is there a single Arsenal fan who honestly thinks Viera was a wise or astute buy? Or who thinks him a top class player?
I ask, because I have not noticed, as yet, a single very positive comment about him on JA.
My own view is that he is totally unsuited to play for us and even in the highly physical and frantic paced Prem at all, even though I CAN SEE HE HAS A GOOD DEGREE OF NATURAL ABILITY, BUT UNLESS YOU ARE ABLE TO SHOW THAT ABILITY AND TO DO SO REGULARLY – OR AT ALL- THEN YOU ARE NO USE TO OUR CLUB!
Anyone disagree with that last sentence?
Viera’s playing time is limited. With more playing time, he would blend with the team & his total contribution can be assessed.
Arteta is not audacious to use his new players. Even Trossard who was sometimes used requires more playing time.
The jury is still out on Vieira. It is too early to write him off. At this point he can’t be considered a top player. However, if he has talent then his potential can be developed.
I think there’s a risk with every signing – this one hasn’t worked so far, but i can see why we made it. You can see from the clips with his previous club, he possesses a killer pass and a very good long range shot, plus he’s got a bit of fight in him. So far he’s struggled with the pace of the league, I think, and his lack of physical size/strength has made it even worse. If he can get adjusted to the league, it could still turn out to be a smart signing, as he’s got plenty of years to make up for this season.
Am really baffled why Jorginho is not involved more before now, was not expecting him to play week in week out, but surely there were ample times where he could have come in and make a difference.
Could say the same for a lot of players. It’s strange how little game time Tierney, ESR and Nelson have had, even if there are better options.
Fabio is not for EPL matches. He is to feature in FA and Carabao matches to enable our top players rest from fatigue and avoidable injuries. So, Mikel, use Jorgi in all the EPL matches and Champions League show next season pls.
Of course, Arteta is also still on the learning curve on tactics. Nice passing flowing fb is good in its proper place, but playing to win fb matches especially in the run in is a must. At St. James Park Arsenal battled and put the effort, the manager was brave and utilized his subs well. I hope, Arteta has learned
his lessons because he lost the league because he was poor at rotating players
You hit the nail on the head mate.
Arteta was not audacious as previously mentioned in the players’ rotation.
Saka’s performance diminished due to a lack of time for him to recover.
He has started almost all the matches for Arsenal this season.
Man City is thriving due to the depth of the squad & players’ management.
Arteta was even afraid to use Jorginho despite his experience.
I have seen a number of these kind of comments recently. It would suggest that a number of fans think they know better than the manager or that a more experienced manager would definitely have done better.
Yet we have many more experienced managers in the league. How many of these managers have outsmarted Arteta this season? How many would really pick Jorginho over Partey in a must win game?
Any coach who is desirous of making top four in Premiership will never go for a player in the mould of Viera. He is a liability. Pepe and even Maitland Niles are by far better than him. And I wonder what he plays in training that gets Arteta convinced. Please, send him on loan and thereafter, sell him.
We can blame Fabio Viera.
All the new players, except Trossard had limited playing.
They should be exposed & rotate playing time to keep the first eleven fresh & raring to go.
During the game against LFC, he ought to have replaced Zinchenko before his lapse resulted in the second goal.
Partey ought to have been replaced about 30 minutes before the end of the match.
Poor game management cost Arsenal the title. But I must commend the unexpected & impressive performance against The Toons.
Vieira is clearly more of an attacking midfielder who *can* play cm (so we’ve been told). I saw it as arteta looking to play a more offensive lineup against Southampton in an attempt to blow them away. Didn’t work.
Jorginho is most known as a holding midfielder, so picking him in that game would have been a defensive move, on paper.
It didn’t work out, but i can see why arteta tried it. ESR might have worked better, if he was fit.
For Davi
If he wanted to go for all out attack I saw better options than Vieira like ESR, Nelson or even Zinchenko with KT playing @ LB.
In my view, Vieira is not PL ready. He may be good next season either with a good pre-season or a short loan spell away.
No point crying over spilt milk. MA has clearly learnt and has not picked Vieira in any of the starting 11’s since thank god.
Yes, I think we’re in agreement, but i think arteta saw it as an opportunity to play an extra ‘attacker’ in a game. He may also have thought it would have been an easier game, which could have helped Vieira to build some confidence.
He was signed for a reason (he does have talent that’s not showing through just yet), and I think he must be putting in the work in training – can’t see arteta giving him that chance if he wasn’t.
It wouldn’t be the first time a player struggled in their first season – I don’t think arteta will give up on Vieira so early as long as he’s showing the right attitude (and neither should we, imo)
Game management is pivotal once leading, and we failed at that against Liverpool and westham . The soton game we should have started better tactically and mentally and we failed big time. Could the coach have done better? yes
Vieira was a 35 million luxury buy IMHO and suited to backup Odegaard as a 10 and unsuitable to other positions.
Too timid and frail to defend and get stuck, and without time and space on the ball he is a huge liability.
Needs a loan next year for sure, ESR miles ahead of him in terms of development and productivity.
Head scratcher how a now fully healthy ESR is not picked over Vieira.
De Bruyne also found it difficult in his first season. Fabio should add on some weight and turn it into muscle and then get his head down and put in the hard yards. If he wants to be a success it is totally in his own hands. I’m rooting for him