Misfiring Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus will be bidding to snap an abysmal run in front of goal when the Gunners welcome Everton to the Emirates Stadium for Saturday's Premier League battle.
The Brazil international could not impact proceedings off the bench in last weekend's 1-1 draw with Fulham, which represented his 22nd consecutive top-flight game without finding the back of the net.
Jesus has to go all the way back to January for his most recent goal in the Premier League, and the 27-year-old has been labelled a "real problem" as Arsenal sit six points below Liverpool - who have a game in hand - in the top-flight table.
Jesus's profligacy was also on full display in Wednesday's 3-0 Champions League win against Monaco, but he at least managed to provide an assist for Bukayo Saka, and matches against Everton tend to bring out the best in the South American.
The ex-Manchester City man is expected to drop out of the starting XI for Kai Havertz, but there is every chance he will get some minutes as a substitute, and here, Sports Mole takes a closer look at Jesus's record against the Toffees ahead of this battle.
Gabriel Jesus record vs. Everton
Played: 12
Won: 11
Drawn: 1
Lost: 0
Goals: 8
Assists: 1
Gabriel Jesus celebrates scoring for Arsenal in July 2023
Gabriel Jesus celebrates scoring for Arsenal in July 2023
© Reuters
With a total of eight goals to show from 12 matches against Everton in all competitions, the Toffees represent Jesus's joint-favourite opponent in English football in terms of pure goals, having also struck eight times versus Watford, although he has four assists against the Hornets compared to just the one against Everton.
Six of Jesus's strikes against Watford have come in the Premier League, but the attacker has netted all eight of his goals versus Everton in the top flight, blanking in a 2-0 FA Cup quarter-final win in 2021.
Jesus could not directly contribute to the cause in his debut against Everton, which was a 1-1 home draw in August 2017, but he found the back of the net at Goodison Park when Man City won 3-1 on the Toffees' turf later that year.
That game marked the first of five consecutive matches where Jesus would breach the Everton backline, scoring three goals against them in both the 2018-19 and 2019-20 campaigns - braces at the Etihad and one on each occasion at Goodison Park.
Manchester City's Gabriel Jesus celebrates scoring against Everton in the Premier League on May 23, 2021
Manchester City's Gabriel Jesus celebrates scoring against Everton in the Premier League on May 23, 2021
© Reuters
Jesus's scoring record against Everton came to an end in the 2020-21 campaign, although he still set up Bernardo Silva's goal in a 3-1 win before netting City's second in a 5-0 drubbing of the Toffees on the final day of the season.
The Brazilian played just 13 minutes against Everton during his final season in sky blue - coming on as a late substitute at Goodison Park - while he was unavailable to face the Toffees during his Arsenal debut campaign on account of his knee problems.
Due to nationwide postponements after the death of Queen Elizabeth II, there were only four weeks between Arsenal and Everton's two meetings in the 2022-23 season, forcing Jesus to take a backseat role during the latter stages of his recovery.
In addition, the Brazil international was overlooked for a starting role in Arsenal's first meeting with Everton in the 2023-24 season, where Eddie Nketiah led the line and Leandro Trossard was the hero of the hour with the only goal of the contest.
However, having come off the bench at Goodison Park on that day, while missing the 1-0 Goodison loss in February 2023 due to injury, Jesus is yet to be on the losing side against the Merseyside outfit, earning 11 victories and one draw from his 12 contests.