Arsenal now faces huge battle to keep Gabriel Jesus at the club after Vinicius Jr decision impacts Real Madrid
Gabriel Jesus, who joined Arsenal in the summer, has made an immediate influence on the team’s offensive play since his arrival.
The Brazilian, who was acquired from Manchester City for £45 million, appears to be an ideal fit for the style of game that Mikel Arteta desires to play.
His selflessness and hard ethic enable him to contribute in all phases of play, while his quality on the ball and especially in tight positions such as the penalty area provide the Gunners with the extra edge they lacked last season.
His addition to the team has resulted in 12 goal contributions thus far, propelling them to the top of the Premier League heading into November.
“Individual actions make a difference in football and Gabriel Jesus is doing them week in, week out,” Arteta told Sky Sports when praising the striker earlier this season.
“He was involved in the goals and his contributions to the team have been outstanding. He’s still 25 so he can improve his level a lot. He is hungry enough and has huge desire to get better and better.”
Arsenal had to defeat a number of teams, notably London rivals Chelsea and Tottenham, to sign the attacker during the summer transfer window.
Real Madrid was also interested in Jesus, with the Spanish giants eyeing a possible transfer when he became available.
This never materialized, however, as Los Blancos already had three non-EU players on their roster and were unable to recruit a fourth until one of them left the club or earned citizenship.
Since then, Vinicius Jr, Eder Militao, and Rodrygo have each obtained a Spanish passport, freeing up roster spots for non-EU players.
Real Madrid are reportedly interested in signing Jesus again in the near future, according to a report from GOAL via The Sun.
The Brazilian is seen as the ideal backup for striker Karim Benzema, who has just been awarded the Ballon d’Or for his efforts over the past year.
It might put the Gunners in a transfer race to retain their own striker, but with a five-year contract already in place, they should have a greater say in any prospective exit.
Arsenal now faces huge battle to keep Gabriel Jesus at the club after Vinicius Jr decision impacts Real Madrid
