Mikel Arteta addresses claims that Arsenal could sell Gabriel Jesus this summer
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has dismissed rumors that the club might be open to selling one of their experienced forwards this summer.
Gabriel Jesus has faced challenges at the Emirates Stadium this season due to knee and hamstring injuries, losing his starting spot to Kai Havertz.
Initially the Gunners’ main striker during the winter, Jesus’s playing time has diminished as Havertz transitioned from midfield to the attacking role.
Jesus only played as a second-half substitute in Arsenal’s Champions League quarter-final loss to Bayern Munich and did not feature in the recent North London derby victory over Tottenham Hotspur.
Amid these issues, reports have emerged suggesting Arsenal might be open to offers for the 27-year-old, whose contract runs through 2027.
Despite the speculations, Jesus is determined to stay and fight for his position in the team, aiming to perform well in pre-season and overcome his injury problems. When Arsenal take on Bournemouth on Saturday, Jesus is expected to be on the bench again.
In a pre-match press conference, Arteta dismissed the rumors about Jesus leaving. When asked about the reports, Arteta responded, “I don’t know where this is coming from,” and firmly stated, “No, no,” when asked if the club would let him go.
Since joining Arsenal from Manchester City in the summer of 2022, Jesus has scored 19 goals and provided 14 assists in 66 games for the team, including eight goals and seven assists in 33 matches this season. However, in the Premier League, he has only scored four times and has not netted in seven matches since his goal against Nottingham Forest in late January.
In addition to addressing Jesus’s future, Arteta also discussed the situation with David Raya, currently on loan at Arsenal from Brentford. The club may make Raya’s stay permanent for approximately £27m, but there has been no official announcement from either side.
Arteta expressed satisfaction with Raya’s performance since replacing Aaron Ramsdale as the first-choice goalkeeper, stating, “Those conversations are for after the season. We will review where we are. Obviously, we are really happy with David and everything he has brought to the club and the team.”
Arteta also spoke about the possibility of experienced midfielder Jorginho signing a new contract with Arsenal. The team could temporarily secure a four-point lead at the top of the Premier League standings if they defeat Bournemouth on Saturday.
Mikel Arteta addresses claims that Arsenal could sell Gabriel Jesus this summer
