Arsenal make Jorginho contract decision as Mikel Arteta plan moves step closer

Jorginho is reportedly closing in on signing a new contract with Arsenal.

The Italy international was signed by the Gunners in January last year in a £12 million deal from Chelsea. Jorginho's original deal is currently set to expire at the end of the season, but there is the option of a further year that can be agreed.

It was reported by football.london earlier this week that Arsenal were preparing to offer Jorginho a new deal, which would include fresh terms beyond the option of a further year. Now it seems that the midfielder looks set to extend his stay at the Emirates Stadium.

According to The Athletic, the Gunners have already submitted their new contract to Jorginho. The report even goes as far as to say that the 32-year-old is expected to sign the new deal to remain with Arsenal beyond this season.

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Jorginho has been a vital player to Mikel Arteta's squad this season as Arsenal have challenged on multiple fronts. The Gunners have been competing with Manchester City and Liverpool for the Premier League and were narrowly beaten by Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-final.

Arteta has handed Jorginho 35 appearances in all competitions for Arsenal this season, including 23 in the Premier League. One of the turning points for the midfielder's season was in the 3-1 win over Liverpool on February 4, in what was only his fifth top-flight start of the campaign at the time.

Jorginho has now made 10 starts in the Premier League this season, including five of his last eight appearances. Now Arteta and Co. will be hoping that an agreement will be reached between the club and Jorginho in order to get one of the most important players in the squad contracted to the Emirates for the foreseeable future.