Former Manchester United midfielder Roy Keane offered his take on Arsenal attacker Gabriel Jesus ahead of the Gunners' Premier League trip to promoted Leeds United on Saturday (January 31).
The Gunners are coming off a 3-2 UEFA Champions League home win over Kairat in their final league phase game to head to the knockouts with a perfect 8/8 record. However, Mikel Arteta's side had stumbled 3-2 at home to Manchester United in their most recent Premier League game last weekend.
With the Gunners heading to Elland Road next as they seek to retain their four-point lead atop the standings, Keane said on The Overlap (as per Arsenal Insider) about Jesus' performance against the Red Devils:
"What about Jesus this weekend? Say whatever about his movement, his touch was so off.”
Jesus, 28, failed to make an impact against United in the defeat at the Emirates, getting hauled off at the hour mark, with the Gunners trailing 2-1 after taking the lead through a Lisandro Martinez own goal just before the half-hour mark.
As per Sofascore, the Brazilian had just one shot on the opposition goal, which was off-target, and had one shot blocked in 58 minutes of action, before getting replaced by Viktor Gyokeres.
Jesus came on as a late substitute for Gyokeres in the aforementioned Champions League win over Kairat and had a goal ruled out for offisde. Overall, the Brazilian has scored thrice and assisted once in 14 outings across competitions in what has been an injury-riddled season.
Leeds United vs Arsenal: A few tidbits
Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta's side are atop the Premier League.
Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta's side are atop the Premier League.
Arsenal have a 48-36 lead over Leeds United in 112 meetings across competitions. The Gunners have won their last six Premier League meetings with Leeds, who are unbeaten in six home league meetings in the fixture - losing four - since a 1-0 win at Elland Road in November 2020.
The Whites, though, are unbeaten in five home league games - their longest such run in the competition in nearly five years when they had a six-game streak (winning three) between March and May 2021.
It seems like a good time for Leeds to play the Gunners in the league, as the table-toppers have dropped points in their last three outings - losing one (Manchester United at home) - since winning 3-2 at AFC Bournemouth at the start of the month.