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Arsenal captain will turn down Saudi move to focus on this season

Arsenal midfielder Jorginho is fully focused on this season with the club, and will turn down any moves this season.

The Italian midfielder joined the club over a year ago from Chelsea. Mikel Arteta brought Jorginho to the club because of the experience he could offer the team.

The Italian midfielder said he did not need much convincing to join the Gunners, as Mikel Arteta had already tried to sign him before that year:

“It happened really quick, because it was in the last two days of the transfer window closing. I saw that my time at Chelsea was basically finished there,” Jorginho said on the Seaman Says podcast.

“I didn’t feel part of the project anymore, and sometimes you just need to accept and move on. When I had the call, I didn’t think twice because I knew that Mikel [Arteta] tried to sign me before and it didn’t happen.

“I saw the way the team was playing, which suits my qualities, and I believed that I could add to the team so it was a yes, straight away.”

Jorginho ended up playing in 24 league games last season because of Thomas Partey’s fitness issues. This season however, he has only played two Premier League games which sparked conversations about his exit.

With Mikel Merino joining the gunners in the summer, his role in the team was under scrutiny.

Jorginho is staying at Arsenal – Fabrizio Romano

According to Fabrizio Romano, in an exclusive with CaughtOffside, Jorginho has no plans of leaving Arsenal this season.

“The situation is that Jorginho is only thinking about this season. It’s an important season for Arsenal, I don’t think all these links for Jorgi, Saliba etc are genuine and are good for the club… it’s only the beginning of October, the season started just 50 days ago.”

“Jorginho’s full focus is on present, on Arsenal, not on moving into coaching and not on making the move to Saudi.” He added.

The 32-year old has only started two games for Arsenal this season.

Mikel Arteta is the reason midfielder wants to stay

Jorginho signed on to the project immediately after Mikel Arteta called, and the Italian has witnessed first hand how the Spanish coach has transformed the club.

“The mentality now is different because you can see the hunger of wanting to win.

“The way you train every day, the information you have — even pictures at the training ground. Everything’s about winning.

“It’s really good as Mikel put up all these messages you see. It gets into your mind when you keep seeing them and you start to believe it.”

“Then you get into the habit. You have the motivation and all we want to do is win.”