For the first time this season, Jorginho has started back to back Premier League games for Arsenal, featuring in the 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest, and the 5-2 defeat of West Ham on Saturday.
The Italian international hasn’t had too many opportunities so far this campaign, playing just 290 of an available 1170 minutes in the league, but when needed has been a consistent performer for Mikel Arteta’s side.
The boss was asked about him at his pre-Man Utd press conference this afternoon, and if he’d been impressed with the 32 year old’s readiness to step into the fray.
“That’s his quality, I think” said Arteta.
“I always mention that his biggest quality is the capacity that he has to make the others better, and last season it was the same. At the start there are less games, you don’t play that many midweeks and he had less time to play.
“I always tell him be ready because it’s going to come the time that you’re needed, and it’s not going to be any in one week you’re going to play, it’s going to be ‘You have to play now’ or ‘You’re going to play tomorrow’, and the way he prepares is top so when he needs to play he’s always ready.”
Currently undertaking his coaching badges, the midfielder can often be seen on the sidelines encouraging and instructing his teammates during games, but that’s something Arteta noticed about him much earlier in his career.
“That was my feeling when he was already at Napoli, the first time I scouted him, to say he’s a coach here for sure”, said the Spaniard.
“He’s got that will, he’s been doing the courses now for a period of time with all the players as well, and I’m sure he will prepare and he will be very good.”
It remains to be seen if he’ll be required tomorrow night against Man Utd, with the manager giving little away about the injury situation which saw both Thomas Partey and Mikel Merino miss the trip to West Ham.
Should they fail to recover in time, it will be another chance for Jorginho to do his talking on the pitch.