Gabriel Jesus is putting in numbers akin to Kylian Mbappe as Arsenal continue to break records and prove doubters wrong after big win over Inter Milan.
12:00, 21 Jan 2026
Mikel Arteta has a Champions League striker who is competing with Kylian Mbappe for goal involvements
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Mikel Arteta has a Champions League striker who is competing with Kylian Mbappe for goal involvements(Image: Carl Recine/Getty Images)
Would it surprise you to learn that Gabriel Jesus is putting up numbers similar to that of Kylian Mbappe? It probably should, but this is indeed a reality for Arsenal and the Brazilian striker.
Two more goals in the UEFA Champions League as the Gunners put another three past a European giant, winning in the San Siro and damaging Inter Milan’s hopes of a top-eight finish. Arsenal, meanwhile, guaranteed a top-two spot before their final match against Kairat Almaty at the Emirates Stadium.
Jesus finished a great Arsenal move that saw the ball fall perhaps slightly fortuitously to his boot after a mis-hit attempt from Jurrien Timber. The second, another poacher’s goal, heading in at the right place, right time following a Bukayo Saka corner that Leandro Trossard headed brilliantly back across.
These were his 25th and 26th goals in 53 Champions League matches. He’s also added eight assists to such a tally. He’s operated at 1.03 goal involvements per 90, and the Real Madrid forward is only just ahead on 1.08.
Jesus made a real play to be the leading man at the weekend, however Viktor Gyokeres managed to come on and score a great goal of his own to keep the conversation open for Mikel Arteta. Gyokeres scored twice against Atletico Madrid earlier in the campaign before a dip in his output.
Atletico were the first of the three big sides Arsenal have faced this season in Europe, with all ending on the losing side. “Boring, boring Arsenal” have in fact scored ten goals against Atleti, Bayern Munich and Inter Milan across the three matches, putting a good argument up against this reductive tagline they’re so lazily given.
They’re the joint-top scorers in the league phase with 20, the same as PSG. Second highest in the Premier League too, behind Manchester City by five goals (45 > 40).
Many have wondered whether European football suits Arteta’s side better, given the greater openness of the competition. With only eight games to play and a 20/20 cricket-style encouragement to maximise point output in this restricted timeframe, sides attack more.
This has allowed Arsenal to put up big numbers and average just under three goals per game so far. So why, therefore, in the Premier League, do Arsenal have this reputation, and is it fair?
The short answer is: the league is very different, teams operate with greater emphasis on not conceding than scoring and therefore, no, it is not fair. There is a piece of evidence to highlight just how Premier League sides are combating Arsenal while also looking at how the Gunners’ defensive line compares to that of other sides.
The graphic below shows that Arsenal have both the highest defensive line in the league and play against the lowest. Teams sit back, “park the bus,” and make it harder for Arsenal than any other side to break through.
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Yet, despite that, Arteta continues to find ways. While Arsenal might get further criticism for a high volume of goals from set pieces, ultimately this is one of the solutions that the club have found to crack open these stubborn sides.
Whether Jesus can be the player to take Arsenal to their coveted titles domestically and in Europe, however, remains to be seen. But he is doing everything right to suggest that he can.
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