Former Tottenham Hotspur striker Darren Bent has now urged Mikel Arteta to start one Arsenal star against Bayern Munich tonight.
Arsenal will need to be at their very best if they are to overcome Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday night.
The aggregate score in this Champions League quarter-final showdown is balanced at 2-2 heading into this second-leg encounter in Germany. This is a must-win game for the Gunners if they are to reach the semi-finals of Europe’s elite club competition.
Mikel Arteta will also be looking for a response from his team. The North London club saw their Premier League title hopes sustain a hefty blow on Sunday as they were beaten 2-0 by Aston Villa at the Emirates Stadium. His players now need to show their character. Gary Neville believes that Arsenal’s entire season now hinges on whether or not they can bounce back from Sunday’s setback.
A number of Arsenal players underperformed against Aston Villa. Gabriel Jesus frustrated Arsenal fans with his efforts to lead the line. Meanwhile, Oleksandr Zinchenko was exposed as a defensive liability at left-back.
On top of that, Jorginho also came in for criticism. The veteran midfielder has been a vital player for Arteta this season, but has struggled to shine of late. Jorginho was called out for his “poor” performances against both Bayern Munich and Aston Villa.
Darren Bent sends message to Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta about Jorginho
It will be fascinating to see how the Arsenal boss deals with these selection dilemmas. Arteta has been urged to start Takehiro Tomiyasu at left-back against Bayern Munich. German star Kai Havertz also feels like the obvious candidate to spearhead the attack in Munich.
However, the Spanish coach has now been encouraged to keep his faith in Jorginho.
Darren Bent, speaking on talkSPORT (16/04/2024, 18:13), has told Arteta to call upon the former Chelsea man once again at the Allianz Arena. The ex-Spurs star said, “what you do in midfield? Jorginho, for me, has to play. Control possession, especially to silence that kind of Bayern crowd. For me, he has got to play. He is essential.”
Why Jorginho could be key for Arsenal v Bayern Munich
If he is able to produce his best form, the 32-year-old has the capacity to help the Gunners take a grip of this game. Whilst the veteran midfielder may lack pace and physicality, his appreciation of space, tactical understanding of the game, and ability to retain possession in congested areas is vital to Arsenal’s ability to impose their style of play on matches.
The Italy international’s experience could also prove to be crucial. This is a generally very young Arsenal squad, light on Champions League experience. He has won the competition before and can help guide his teammates through this occasion.
He is also playing for his future at the club. There has been a clamour for Arsenal to hand Jorginho a new contract, but as things stand he is set to become a free agent this summer. A strong display tonight would intensify the calls for his services to be retained.