There was some debate among the assembled media yesterday exactly what Mikel Arteta said when quizzed about the prospect of Gabriel Jesus leaving Arsenal next month.
“No sense”, “no chance” and “nonsense” were all suggested, but either way the message was still clear.
Despite a difficult start to the season, Arteta is not giving up on Jesus and has no plans to sell him when the January transfer window opens in a few weeks.
“Like all strikers they go through phases and moments,” said Arteta.
“It’s true that gap has become quite big but there are a lot of things that happened there - injuries and not starting games that much.
“His attitude has been really good. It always is. We’re going to support him as much as possible.”
It is not hard to see why Arsenal and Arteta could be ready to cut their losses with Jesus.
Ahead of tonight’s game against Monaco, the striker has scored just one goal in his last 31 appearances - and that was against Preston in the Carabao Cup.
Gabriel Jesus must find a way to end his woes in front of goal
AFP via Getty Images
A brief cameo during Sunday’s 1-1 draw at Fulham summed up Jesus’ struggles. Brought on the for the final 16 minutes as Arsenal searched for a winner, he had just eight touches and completed one of his six passes.
Arteta once described how Jesus “changed our world” after joining Arsenal from Manchester City in the summer of 2022 for £45million. Now, it feels like the world is changing around Jesus and he risks being left behind.
That has happened to players at Arsenal in the past, such is the speed that the team seems to evolve under Arteta.
In the early part of his reign, it seemed unthinkable there would be a time without the likes of Kieran Tierney and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang - whose combination down the left flank spearheaded Arsenal to winning the FA Cup in 2020.
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Tierney is still at Arsenal, but the fact tonight could be his first appearance for the club since August 2023 says it all. An injury crisis has forced Arteta to turn to the Scot, who looks set for a January move.
Jesus, however, is staying and the challenge for him is prove he has a role to play this season.
If he can get back to his best, then the 27-year-old can be a valuable asset. Capable of playing anywhere across the forward line, Jesus offers versatility.
Mikel Arteta is confident the Brazilian still has a role to play for Arsenal
Richard Sellers/PA Wire
He is usually excellent in tight spaces, which can open up deep defences, and his intelligent movement and willingness to drift out wide helped bring the best out of Gabriel Martinelli two seasons ago.
The fear is whether fitness stops Jesus getting back to that level. Ever since he injured his knee at the 2022 World Cup, the striker has been hit by numerous setbacks.
That was especially the case last season. Jesus scored and starred against Sevilla as Arsenal beat them in October, but then he was out for a month.
He scored and starred against Nottingham Forest in January - which was his last Premier League goal for Arsenal - only to then miss another month.
Speaking in April, Jesus admitted he cannot remember the last time he played without pain in his knee and it is hard not to see how that has led to his decline.
If the striker can overcome that, though, then it would be a huge boost for Arsenal heading into the second part of the season.
And, perhaps, a game against Monaco in the Champions League is the perfect occasion to spark Jesus into life. He boasts a remarkable record in the competition, having scored 24 goals in 50 appearances
.Increasing that tally to 25 tonight would do Jesus the world of good. A goal would not solve all his problems, but it would certainly boost his confidence.
Arteta isn’t giving up on Jesus just yet, but the Brazilian must turn a corner soon.