Mikel Arteta cannot allow one pressing Arsenal problem to go ignored this summer in light of Jorginho having signed a new contract. 

Arsenal officially announced a new contract for Jorginho today.

The Midfield veteran is deserving of this new deal. Reported details of the contract state that Jorginho will now remain at Arsenal until the end of next season. 

The 52-cap Italy international is an important player to Mikel Arteta and has featured regularly for the Gunners this season, making 35 appearances across all competitions.

Arsenal would likely have not been so reliant upon Jorginho were it not for Thomas Partey’s injury, woes which have decimated his campaign. As it was, though, Jorginho stepped up to the task at hand. He provided experience and composure in the middle of the park. Jorginho also forged an effective partnership with Declan Rice. 

Arsenal cannot rest on their laurels after securing Jorginho deal

The former Chelsea man is deserving of his new deal, but Arteta cannot let this new development blind him to the frailties of his midfield unit. The Spanish coach must recognise that the Gunners cannot afford to be so reliant upon the 32-year-old next season. 

Given Jorginho’s game is not based on pace or physicality, he is unlikely to enter a sudden physical decline. However, he has already reached the stage where he struggles to start games week in, week out, as he has had to all too often this season. Jorginho had difficulty keeping up with the pace of Arsenal’s Champions League encounters with Bayern Munich, for example. 

Jorginho contract must be start of new midfield project at Arsenal

Partey’s record suggests his recurrent injury issues are likely to continue to be a problem if he is still at the club next season. As such, reinforcements in that part of the pitch are a must.

The Gunners have been linked with several potential midfield acquisitions. Arsenal are thought to be targeting Newcastle United star Bruno Guimaraes, for instance. Everton ace Amadou Onana has also been linked with a switch to the Emirates Stadium. 

In any case, Arsenal now need to build around Rice, giving him the support he needs to flourish. That means energy, pace, and resilience needs to be added to Arsenal’s midfield contingent. 

Handing Jorginho a new deal was a smart move, he has shown that he still has plenty to offer. However, it has to represent the first move in a process that will see the club construct a far stronger midfield contingent over the course of the summer.