Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus is reportedly prepared to turn down any offers to leave the Emirates Stadium this summer and is eager to fight for his place in the team.
Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus is reportedly prepared to turn down any offers to leave the Emirates Stadium this summer and is eager to fight for his place in the team.
The 27-year-old was signed by the North London club from Manchester City at the start of the 2022-23 season in a deal worth around £45m.
Jesus impressed in his first season at the Emirates, scoring 11 goals and setting up six in 26 Premier League matches, but struggled to follow up on that performance in his second campaign.
Last season, he scored just four goals in 27 league appearances and dropped in the pecking order behind Kai Havertz, who also started the Gunners’ first match of the current league campaign as the first-choice number-nine.
The Brazilian striker had to settle for a spot on the bench in last weekend’s victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers but was brought on for the final few minutes after Declan Rice was withdrawn due to a cramp.
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Gabriel Jesus wants to remain at Arsenal for foreseeable future
In recent months, Jesus’s future at Arsenal has been questioned, with manager Mikel Arteta and sporting director Edu rumoured to be actively searching for a top-class centre-forward.
The Gunners’ chiefs were said to be unsure whether the Brazilian could achieve a consistent goal tally and were looking for a frontman who would bring them 20-25 goals or more per season.
The 27-year-old was heavily linked with a move to Italy earlier this summer, with AC Milan and Juventus both believed to have been keeping an eye on him.
Additionally, reports in recent weeks suggested that clubs in the Saudi Pro League were lining up an offer in the region of £60m to lure him to the Middle East.
However, according to The Sun, the Arsenal number-nine is not willing to entertain any offers relating to a move away from the Emirates this summer and is ready to fight for his place in the first team.
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Arteta happy with current forward options
Following Jesus’s decision and the Gunners’ impressive opening-week victory against Wolves, Arteta suggested that he will not be pursuing a new forward in the current transfer window.
“I have faith in [Havertz], we have faith in [Jesus] – Leandro [Trossard] has played in that position.
“So we have different qualities in there, and the best thing we can do is trust our players and try to improve them. They are so good and so willing and that’s what we focus on,” the Arsenal boss said.
Jesus had previously received praise from his manager for his personal development during the club’s pre-season tour of the United States when he made a strong impression in the 2-1 victory over Premier League rivals Manchester United.
Arsenal will resume league action this weekend when they make the trip to face Unai Emery‘s Aston Villa on Saturday evening.