The January transfer window has finally come to a wrap, with Arsenal, one of the clubs dominating the headlines, signing Jorginho on Deadline Day.
After having two bids rejected for Brighton ace Moises Caicedo, the Premier League leaders swiftly abandoned that pursuit and shifted focus to the aforementioned Italian. Then a Chelsea player, the 31-year-old was in the final six months of his contract and was thus willing to take on a new challenge.
The two London giants promptly negotiated an agreement, with the Gunners paying $14.8M in total for the Euro 2020 winner, with $12.3M being upfront and the rest coming in add-ons. The player put pen to paper on an 18-month arrangement, with Arsenal having the option to extend this deal by a further year.
While this move did not go down well with the North London giants' fan base, Arteta was in desperate need of a midfielder. The club revealed that Mohamed Elneny, the trusted deputy to Thomas Partey, underwent surgery after suffering a significant knee injury, thus leaving the club short on numbers.
And while Edu was heavily criticized for this deal, Jorginho revealed that it was actually Mikel that played a pivotal role in his move from Stamford Bridge to the Emirates Stadium. Speaking to the club's official website, the Azzurri ace revealed that Arteta is a huge admirer of his, and that attracted him to the team.
"He (Arteta) was a big influence because I know that he tried a few times to get me before and it didn't happen due to other reasons, not because of my wishes. So of course, he had a big influence," the new signing said.
"I'm very excited for this new challenge, and I just can't wait to be on the pitch to be honest! Everything has happened so fast. I was a bit surprised, but I took the opportunity of this amazing challenge.
"It's an important shirt. It's an amazing club, a big one, and I'm really excited and happy to be here."
Manchester City wanted to sign the former Napoli ace during Mikel's time at the Etihad Stadium as Guardiola's assistant. The Spaniard then went after the Italian once he became the manager of Arsenal but missed out. However, Arteta has finally gotten his man.
The North London giants are currently first in the English top flight, with Saka and Co. boasting a healthy five-point lead over Manchester City. Not only that, but the Gunners also have a game in hand, meaning they could stretch that advantage to eight points.
Next up for the league leaders is an interesting trip to relegation-battling Everton. The Merseyside outfit have recently appointed Sean Dyche, meaning they will have a new manager in the dugout for this tie. Additionally, Goodison Park is never an easy place to visit.
While the recent injury to Thomas Partey, which he suffered in the 1-0 FA Cup defeat to Manchester City, was deemed minor, it remains to be seen whether the Ghanaian will start. As a result, Jorginho might make his Arsenal debut this weekend.
