Jamie Redknapp remarked that Jorginho was “lucky” not to make substantial contact with Brighton & Hove Albion defender Joel Veltman after the Arsenal midfielder appeared to “lash out” with a “leg swipe” toward his opponent.
The incident took place just outside the penalty box as Joao Pedro was preparing to take a penalty for Brighton’s equalizer during Saturday’s 1-1 draw. While it initially went unnoticed during the live broadcast, it was later reviewed after the match.
As Jorginho positioned himself to clear the ball in case David Raya saved the penalty, Veltman attempted to block his path. Jorginho seemingly reacted with an aggressive “backward kick” toward Veltman, with his studs raised. While no significant contact was made, Veltman fell, and any connection might have drawn the attention of VAR, potentially leading to serious consequences.
Speaking about the incident on Sky Sports after the match, Redknapp said: “Jorginho was quite fortunate here because if he had made contact, he could have faced serious trouble and potentially been sent off.” Analyst Steve Sidwell added: “You can see it’s a bit of a lash out, and with more contact…”
Another clip showed Declan Rice engaging in gamesmanship by shouting at Pedro before the penalty, though it did not impact the outcome.
Jorginho, captaining the team, was making his first Premier League start in almost a month. The Euro 2020 champion, who extended his contract by another year last summer, has appeared in just six league matches this season.
