Arsenal ended their pursuit of highly-rated Brighton midfielder Moises Caicedo and, as a result. switched focus to another Premier League player. However, the club's eventual target has left their own fan base fuming.
As revealed on Monday by David Ornstein of the Athletic and Fabrizio Romano, the North London giants reached out to none other than Jorginho, the polarizing Chelsea maestro, after seeing their second bid for Caicedo get rejected.
Fast forward to today, which is Deadline Day in the January transfer window, and the Gunners have completed a deal for the aforementioned Italian. This is according to the Athletic, with Ornstein writing that the Premier League leaders have reached an agreement for the 31-year-old worth £12M ($15M). Personal terms have already been ironed out and thus the player should complete his medical before the 6 p.m. ET deadline.
With the Blues negotiating with Benfica for Enzo Fernandez, there was the belief that the two-time UEFA Champions League winners would wait to secure the Argentine sensation first before sanctioning the sale of Jorginho.
The Gunners, who sit five points clear at the top with a game in hand over second-placed Manchester City, are in desperate need of a new midfielder. Mohamed Elneny has picked up what looks to be a serious injury and could miss the remainder of the season, thus leaving Arteta with the injury-prone Thomas Partey and the inexperienced Sambi Lokonga as his only options for the no.6 role.
However, while Jorginho has been signed on a short-term basis worth 1.5 years with the option of an additional 12 months, this deal hasn't gone down well with Arsenal fans.
Several supporters have flocked to Twitter to express their frustration with this deal given that the North London giants are in the midst of a title challenge. While the duration of his contract has been welcomed, missing out on Caicedo and ending up with one of Chelsea's most polarizing midfielders has sparked anger among Arsenal fans. Check out the best tweets below.
Our best chance of a title in decades and we're potentially moving for 31-year old Jorginho. You can't be serious.
— Patrick Timmons (@PatrickTimmons1) January 30, 2023
How I felt about signing Jorginho was always going to be contingent on the length of the deal. At 18 months I can absolutely live with it. It doesn't blow my socks off but fills immediate short term need without long term saddling. It's fine imo, nothing more nothing less.
— Tim Stillman (@Stillmanator) January 31, 2023
Ill be honest I'm not happy with the Jorginho transfer at all but it is what it is he's joining he's going to be wearing the Arsenal colours he will get my backing same as Willian, Cech, Luiz, Gallas etc got. Welcome to the biggest club in London
— LJRC (@LiamCrook1) January 31, 2023
Our best chance of winning the league in two decades and I'm hearing names like Jorginho! Did they not learn from Cech and Willian? He's 31, most of their fans want him out. Reeks of panic https://t.co/ruf8syk7dE
— Renato (@rehnato) January 30, 2023
I know it's disappointing the way everything has turned out given expectations but when Jorginho puts on an Arsenal shirt please just support him. No need to start making things toxic.
— James. (@afcjxmes) January 31, 2023
re Jorginho, it's the deal itself (31yo; money even though he's on an expiring deal; potential for a more ambitious move) more so than the player that annoys me. In a vacuum, taking on Jorginho is good #6 cover. But football transfers don't exist in a vacuum.
— Lx (@LxWrites1) January 31, 2023
Considering the deals we're doing in context of the title race, it's going to sting that extra bit more if we don't win it.
— Alex (@alexfrco) January 31, 2023
