Mikel Arteta should now hand Jorginho his first start of the 2023/24 season so Arsenal can dominate their opening Champions League group stage clash with PSV Eindhoven.

The Eredivisie leaders travel to Emirates Stadium on Wednesday night to kick off Group B. It also marks Arsenal’s first game in the Champions League since March 2017 after six years in the European wilderness. Yet the Gunners also played PSV last season in the Europa League.

UEFA drew Arsenal and PSV together in Group A for the 2022/23 Europa League campaign. Mikel Arteta’s men won 1-0 in north London via Granit Xhaka’s goal in the 71st minute. But Ruud van Nistelrooy’s team got the better of the Gunners at the Phillips Stadion to win 2-0.

PSV dominated Arsenal to win 2-0 in the Europa League

PSV now return to Emirates Stadium under Peter Bosz after coming through the Champions League qualifiers. He will hope the Eindhoven side can now take their first-ever win away to the Gunners. Arsenal have won twice and drawn twice when PSV have visited north London.

Bosz must eye PSV’s first-ever win at Arsenal without the man who tormented Arteta’s team in Eindhoven, though. Xavi Simons ran the Gunners ragged at the Phillips Stadion before the forward re-joined Paris Saint-Germain a year after leaving and signed for RB Leipzig on loan.

Arteta admitted that Arsenal ‘were nowhere near our level’ after losing at PSV through goals by Joey Veerman and Luuk de Jong. Van Nistelrooy’s side also saw goals from Simons and Cody Gakpo be ruled out for offside. The Gunners were second-best throughout their clash.

The Gunners will hope they learnt their lessons from the defeat. But Arteta can help Arsenal dominate PSV in the Champions League this Wednesday by starting Jorginho. The 31-year-old has the experience and know-how required to steer the Gunners’ first UCL tie since 2017.

Arteta should start Jorginho in the Champions League

Arteta has kept Jorginho on the sidelines during much of Arsenal’s campaign so far ahead of hosting PSV. The 48-cap Italy midfielder has only played 17 minutes over three cameos from a possible five games. Jorginho also sat out the Community Shield owing to a minor injury.

Yet the return of Champions League football to Emirates Stadium should see Arteta unleash Jorginho in Arsenal’s midfield against PSV. He overcame the pessimism about his move from Chelsea to add a steely aura that controlled the team when Thomas Partey’s form regressed.

Even Jorginho’s efforts in training have astounded Declan Rice this season. The England star further revealed recently that he is trying to learn from the Imbituba, Brazil-born conductor. Rice has developed a great affection for what Jorginho offers, which Arteta should unleash.

“The one who has surprised me so much – not surprised me because I knew he was such a good player anyway – but playing with him every day in training and seeing how he is, because he’s not the biggest, is Jorginho,” Rice told Channel 4.

“His brain, the way it works as a holding midfielder – I’ve been trying to pick up little things off him. He’s always in position, always knows when to pass, always creates time for himself. He’s an outstanding trainer and I’ve been trying to take little bits from his game, as well.”

The post Mikel Arteta should unleash ‘outstanding’ Arsenal star to dominate PSV Eindhoven appeared first on Arsenal Insider.