Former Arsenal midfielder Jorginho has spoken candidly about his decision to leave the Emirates Stadium in the summer of 2025, citing a loss of enjoyment under manager Mikel Arteta as the primary reason for his departure.
In an interview via DAZN, the Italian international explained that a lack of regular playing time had made it increasingly difficult to stay motivated. “I want to feel alive and important for the team,” he said. “When a player is not on the pitch, it’s hard to keep motivated. I felt I needed to go somewhere where I was going to play with joy. I had to find a place where I could enjoy football again.”
Jorginho arrived at Arsenal from Chelsea in January 2023 for a fee of around £12 million, going on to make 79 appearances in all competitions across two and a half seasons — though only 27 of those came as starts. During that period, he contributed to three consecutive Premier League runners-up finishes, as Arsenal mounted sustained but ultimately unsuccessful title challenges. His involvement gradually decreased, however, leaving him on the periphery of Arteta’s squad.
Following a mutual agreement that ended his contract, Jorginho joined Brazilian giants Flamengo on a free transfer, signing a deal that runs until July 2028.
Beyond the issue of playing time, Jorginho also took aim at Arsenal’s well-documented emphasis on set-piece routines — a tactical cornerstone of Arteta’s system that has earned the club significant praise from analysts and rivals alike. “Arteta likes to put special focus on set pieces,” he said. “But to me it feels like boring homework. When you do your homework, you will get results. But when you put so much focus on set pieces, you won’t play beautiful football. You forget about the football.”
Arteta’s Arsenal have been widely credited with developing one of the most sophisticated set-piece operations in European football in recent seasons, with the approach yielding a notable volume of goals from dead-ball situations. While effective, Jorginho’s comments suggest the method did not suit every player in the dressing room.
The timing of Jorginho’s remarks is notable. Arsenal are preparing for a crunch Premier League fixture against Manchester City, with the title race still unresolved heading into the final weeks of the 2025/26 season. The club will be without forward Bukayo Saka for that contest, according to reports, adding further pressure to Arteta’s squad.
At 34, Jorginho — a UEFA Champions League, Serie A, and Premier League winner across his career — appears to have found renewed purpose in South America. His move to Flamengo, one of Brazil’s most storied clubs, represents a significant change of environment after more than a decade in European football with Napoli, Chelsea, and Arsenal.
