Gabriel Jesus acknowledges that there is an expectation from Arsenal fans for him to be prolific and realises the onus is on him to be more clinical in order to gain game time.
The striker has scored five times against Crystal Palace in the space of four days, having netted a hat-trick in Wednesday’s League Cup quarter-final before firing home twice in Saturday’s 5-1 Premier League win at Selhurst Park.
However, he had only scored once in 20 matches prior to this week and has consequently been the subject of criticism from some onlookers. Jesus has only started nine of his 22 outings this season - 12 fewer than Kai Havertz - but some judge his 25 goals in 91 Arsenal games as under par for a title-chasing team.
Speaking to Sky Sports after this weekend’s win at Palace, Jesus was pleased to be getting more minutes of late. But he recognises what is then required in return, as he vies for playing time against first-choice central attacker Havertz, who netted his 11th of the campaign on Saturday.
Jesus said: “It is great to be back in the team playing more. I am experienced enough and know when a player is playing constantly it is different.
“I am happy to get more chances but it is up to me to put myself in the right places to score. It is Arsenal, it is a huge club and I know the pressure for the number nine to score is there."
Asked by Match of the Day whether he felt the pressure during his previous Premier League goal drought this season, Jesus replied: "Yes, at one point I was feeling that but still I never doubted my quality.
“I never doubted I can score goals. Obviously when you are having a bad moment you have to keep your mind strong, and that's what I tried to do.
“Sometimes I know when I played and leave with a smile on my face everything is different because I am grateful to God, he's great with me and it's impossible to do it without him. The glory goes to God."