Martin Keown has insisted that Frank Lampard made a mistake by not starting Jorginho against Arsenal after the Chelsea midfielder changed the game on Sunday.
The Italian midfielder was introduced after just 34 minutes against the Gunners on Sunday, replacing Emerson as Chelsea shifted from a 3-4-3 system back to their more traditional 4-3-3 formation.
Lampard has favoured a back three in recent matches since the return of Antonio Rudiger to accommodate the German alongside Fikayo Tomori and Kurt Zouma.
However, in order to start all three centre-backs, Jorginho has been sacrificed in midfield, with Mateo Kovacic and N'Golo Kante operating as a midfield pair, with Mason Mount in a more offensive role in support of Tammy Abraham.
With Chelsea 1-0 down after Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's header, Jorginho's introduction gave the Blues a much better hold of possession, which eventually saw them run out 2-1 winners after late goals from the Italian and Abraham.
The midfield pivot's impact at the Emirates has left Keown with no doubt that he must be one of the first names on the team sheet in a midfield three going forward.
"Jorginho coming on was key to Chelsea winning. They needed that extra player in midfield," Keown told Match of the Day 2.
"He is the general and he should be playing.
"Suddenly they changed to a back four and Jorginho had two either side of him. It pushed Arsenal's two full-backs back and that was from 34th minute onwards.
"They went into half-time in a lot better shape and it was perhaps an admittance from the manager that he perhaps got the tactics wrong.”
Whilst Lampard may not have started with Jorginho from the off, the Chelsea boss was quick to react to his side's inability to hold possession by bringing on Jorginho in midfield.
