**Mikel Arteta was defiant in his response to potentially selling Gabriel Jesus.**
There is no denying that one of the elephants in the room for Arsenal over the last 18 months has been the form of Gabriel Jesus.
Having dealt with injuries all throughout last season, Jesus looked to be back to his best in preseason, but that hasn't exactly carried over into the Premier League, with the Brazilian struggling to find form and the back of the net.
Jesus has played 12 league games this season, and is yet to score, with his only goal coming in the EFL Cup against Preston. So that isn't exactly ideal, and given that the January transfer window is approaching and with Arsenal in need of some goalscoring power, could the Brazilian be making way?
When Mikel Arteta was asked if the club is willing to see the forward, he was rather defiant in his response.
"No, no sense," Arteta said via [arsenal.com](https://www.arsenal.com/news/every-word-mikel-artetas-pre-monaco-presser).
Fulham FC v Arsenal FC - Premier League / James Gill - Danehouse/GettyImages
With Jesus only having one goal and one assist in his 18 matches in all competitions, that doesn't look like a forward who is "close" to getting his groove back.
What's more, Jesus, in the league, has only played 90 minutes once this season, and in his last two appearances, he's been a substitute, with Arteta preferring Kai Havertz to lead the line.
But despite Jesus not being in form and seemingly not in Arteta's good graces, the Spaniard is determined to help Jesus get out of his current funk.
"Like all strikers, they go on phases and moments and that gap is becoming big," Arteta said. "It’s true that obviously a lot of things has happened, injuries, absences of not playing or starting games that much but his attitude has been really good, it always is, and we’re going to try to help him overcome the situation as soon as possible."
We have seen the difference that a fully fit and confident Jesus can do to this Arsenal frontline, but over the last 18 months, that player hasn't been seen, and when we do, it is for a fleeting minute.
While it is still early in the season, the Gunners would benefit from Jesus finding his form because, as things stand the team will need all the help they can get if they are to reel in league leaders Liverpool.
Can Jesus get out of his current slump to help kickstart Arsenal's season? Arteta seems confident.
Us? Not so much.