Arsenal probably would not have won three points against Sevilla in the Champions League on Tuesday if it hadn’t been for Gabriel Jesus. The Brazilian was directly involved in both goals scored by Arsenal, who were not at their best at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan. Jesus was shining brightly.
Jesus often faces criticism for not contributing enough goals for a centre forward. Indeed, the striker has failed to score more than 14 goals in a single PremierPINC -1.1% League season, but his all-round game is extremely broad and brings the best out of the players around him. This was evident in the performance against Sevilla.
The first goal saw Jesus drop into the centre of the pitch to turn two opposition players and play Gabriel Martinelli into space while the second goal came from the Brazilian international rifling a finish into the top corner of the net himself. The Champions League frequently brings the best out of Jesus.
“It’s a competition that I love,” he said after the win over Sevilla. “All the competitions I love, because I just love to play football. But I don’t know, since day one in the Champions League, my debut, I scored goals. I haven’t won it yet, so I am looking for this, for this beautiful trophy. Obviously it is not easy, but I think we have to believe. If we don’t believe, we cannot be here.”
Arsenal are a more fluid attacking unit with Jesus as their centre forward. Eddie Nketiah has performed well in Jesus’ absence through injury, but the Brazilian has much more to his game. His first touch and appreciation of space and how to exploit it makes him a special talent. Arsenal are lucky to have him