Gabriel Jesus missed two guilt-edged chances against Monaco, but how can Arsenal get the Brazilian out of his current funk?
Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus was given the start against Monaco in the Champions League midweek having been a substitute in his last three league games, and it was a chance he ultimately wasted.
It was seen as a great chance for the Brazilian to get that goal-scoring touch back and give Mikel Arteta another option up top instead of Kai Havertz...and Jesus more than had enough chances.
On another day, he would have had at least a brace, with his first effort hit straight at Monaco keeper Radoslaw Majecki, albeit from a tight angle but his second chance was the best he would have had in a long time.
Sent through by Jakub Kiwior's long, direct ball, Jesus was one-on-one and after controlling it beautifully, again hit it straight at Majecki, and just a few inches either side of the keeper, and Arsenal has the lead.
Two great chances went begging in the first half, and it now marks just one goal in 19 appearances in all competitions for Jesus.
But what can Arteta do to help the Brazilian get out of his current funk?
"Nothing, just to put him in front of goal like he’s done on a couple of occasions, and there are millimetres, centimetres to if the goal goes in or not," Arteta said via arsenal.com. "He was there, he looked really alive, he had created the first goal from a great move and that’s him, so we have him back he’s with us and I’m sure he will contribute to the team."
Gabriel Jesus, Mohammed Salisu
So that is one way to look at it - Jesus is at least getting into goal-scoring positions, but his lack of quality in finishing off those chances has been sorely lacking for the last 18 months or so (zero goals in last 24 league appearances).
The shining light is that he still contributed to the win over Monaco. After being set free by a delightful Myles Lewis-Skelly ball, Jesus then squared it beautifully for Bukayo Saka to give the Gunners a much-deserved lead.
But while assists are nice, Arsenal wants goals from Jesus, and the only way to get him back in that scoring groove again is to keep playing him and hope that when that first goal goes in, it can then release that mental handbrake that appears to be firmly applied.
How long will that take? Your guess is as good as mine. But if the Gunners have any intention of reeling in league leaders Liverpool, it can't last too much longer.