Jorginho mentions that Arsenal is driven by their disappointment from last season’s title loss and talks about their interest in learning BSL.

Arsenal midfielder Jorginho believes that the disappointment of missing out on the Premier League title last season could actually benefit the Gunners in their pursuit of glory this season. Despite leading the table for an impressive 248 days, Arsenal faltered in the final months and ultimately finished second to treble-winning Manchester City.

Mikel Arteta’s side are once again in the hunt for the title this season and currently sit second, just two points behind leaders Liverpool with eight matches to play. The Gunners have propelled themselves into the title picture with a run of nine wins in their last 10 matches, with their only dropped points coming in a recent hard-fought draw against City.

Speaking to TNT Sports ‘Sign Up – Into Football’, where he also discussed learning British Sign Language (BSL), Jorginho stated that his team-mates can use their current form and the motivation from last season to push them over the line this time around. The 32-year-old midfielder said, “We need to keep doing what we are doing because we truly believe we are on the right path, and we just need to keep pushing because it’s the right thing to do.”

Jorginho also highlighted the experience gained from last season’s campaign and the cohesion within the team as factors that can help Arsenal in their pursuit of the title. He said, “I think the experience we had last season, in different matches, and the group working together another year – it’s another year of experience. We learned a lot from last season, in games and managing certain things during games. Experience from what happened is helping a lot, and new players coming in as well. It’s all things that have been helping.”

The Italy international also praised manager Mikel Arteta, highlighting his attention to detail and passion for the club. Jorginho said, “I think his biggest strength is how much he works on details, and of course his passion, and how much he cares about everyone, the club and trying to make everyone better.”

Jorginho joined Arsenal in January 2023 after a successful spell at London rivals Chelsea, where he helped them to Champions League success in 2021. He was also part of the Italy squad that won the European Championships that same year, leading to his nomination for the Ballon d’Or.

Jorginho revealed that his Ballon d’Or nomination prompted him to learn BSL in preparation, in case he needed to make a speech to reach the widest possible audience. As the only known player to have learned sign language, Jorginho has earned praise from the deaf community. His studies have also led to him featuring in a matchday video at Arsenal, welcoming fans in BSL, something he is extremely proud of.

Reflecting on his decision to learn BSL, Jorginho said, “It started when I was in the awards for the Ballon d’Or. My agent came up with the idea of doing something special, something that nobody has ever done before. I started my lessons and learned more about the community and the difficulties they face. I felt I could try and help somehow, so that’s why I started learning. Recognition from the deaf community motivates me to learn more and involve them even more. I feel really grateful.”