Arsenal recently tied down Ben White to a new long-term contract and must now focus on striking a fresh deal with one other player.
Having secured Ben White’s future, Arsenal must now turn their attention to retaining Jorginho.
Arsenal officially announced that White had been handed a new long-term contract on the same day that Gareth Southgate revealed that the right-back has requested to not be considered for England duty. The timing of the Gunners’ statement is unlikely to have been a coincidence in this regard, and ought to be viewed as a tacit show of support for the 26-year-old.
The right-back deserves his new contact. He is a fan-favourite at the Emirates Stadium, and has been in fine form this season. He is a key figure in Mikel Arteta’s plans, and starts virtually every game.
Arsenal have done a good job in recent times of ensuring that their top stars are tied down to long-term deals. The likes of Bukayo Saka, William Saliba, Martin Odegaard, and Gabriel Martinelli, amongst others, have put pen to paper on new contracts in the last year or so.
Sporting director Edu deserves credit for his work in getting these other deals over the line, and he must now turn his attention towards Jorginho’s situation.
Why Arsenal must strike Jorginho deal
The veteran midfielder has been fantastic for Arsenal this season. He has formed a brilliant partnership with Declan Rice in the middle of the park and has played a crucial role in some big games. The 32-year-old has shown that he still has plenty to offer at the highest level.
As things stand, though, the £12 million former Chelsea man is set to become a free agent in the upcoming summer transfer window. Arsenal do have the option to trigger a one-year extension clause in Jorginho’s existing contract, but as yet they have not done so.
There have been calls for Arsenal to extend Jorginho’s stay at the Emirates Stadium. As long as the player is willing to remain in north London for another year, it is hard to see why Arteta and Edu would not want to keep him. Jorginho has been described as an “incredible” player, and his experience and leadership are both so valuable. He brings so much to the club on and off the field, and given that his game is not based on pace or athleticism, but rather tactical intelligence and technique, there is no reason to fear he will suddenly go into a decline.