Arsenal have completed a £12 million deal to sign Italian international Jorginho from Chelsea, as Mikel Arteta adds some experience to his midfield. The 31-year-old is said to be signing on an 18-month contract, and joins the Gunners at a time when they have recently lost the Egyptian international Mohamed Elneny for a number of weeks due to injury. Ghanaian Thomas Partey also suffered a rib injury in last Friday’s FA Cup fourth round defeat to Manchester City, but is not thought to be too serious. And in a picture his agent posted online, he is seen in a Gunners strip and tracksuit bottoms which sport the No.20.
However, former Rangers striker Ally McCoist believes Jorginho will not make any impact with the Gunners. “I don’t see it as a great move,’ McCoist told talkSPORT. “Nothing to do financially, I actually think Chelsea are getting the better deal because I think he changes the way Arsenal play in that midfield, which is high energy. “[Thomas] Partey, [Martin] Odegaard and [Granit] Xhaka have been excellent. Talented, yes, top quality, but I think he [Jorginho] plays the game at a different pace than what Arsenal want to play at right now. “I don’t think Jorginho is going to Arsenal thinking he’s going to be a squad player. He’s not going to leave one club where he’s sitting on the bench and be happy sitting on the bench at another.”
