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Gabriel Jesus has revealed his delight at playing in a more central striking role since he left Manchester City for Arsenal this summer.
THE LOWDOWN: VERY POSITIVE START
Gabriel Jesus joined Arsenal as their marquee signing in a £45m move from Manchester City over the summer. During his time at the Etihad, he was generally seen as a ‘back-up’ to Sergio Aguero and was often deployed on the wing by Pep Guardiola.
Featuring on the wing regularly for City soon saw him take a similar position for the Brazilian national team, with Neymar featuring in a more central role for the Selecao. Since joining Arsenal though, Jesus has taken to a more central role, with Mikel Arteta seeing him as the focal point in Arsenal’s attack, following Alexandre Lacazette’s departure.
It has already paid dividends for Arsenal, with seven goals in pre-season and a brilliant start to the Premier League campaign. After a positive outing in the 2-0 win over Crystal Palace, Jesus was the star of the day against Leicester City, scoring twice and assisting another two in a 4-2 victory for the Gunners.
The 25-year-old has now revealed he is enjoying his new role and eager to feature more in that position.
THE LATEST: THRIVING IN HIS PREFERRED ROLE
Speaking about playing more centrally at Arsenal, Jesus is enjoying every bit of the action.
“Obviously, due to the circumstances that happened after the Cup, I ended up playing more at the winger in the Seleção and at City too. After the World Cup I thought that I couldn’t play as a No.9,” he told ESPN Brasil.
“I started playing much more on the wing at [Manchester] City and for Brazil. For a while I thought that. But I’ve changed my mentality, I believe much more in myself now. I’m smiling again playing football.”
“I’m very blessed as I can play across all front three but I am a No.9. I am there to finish our chances. Not only that but to help the team as a whole. It’s normal to pick up and think that you can’t play with 9, that I’m a winger.”
“I had this in my head for a long time. Now I have a different mind and I believe in myself much more. I went back to being the usual Gabriel, thinking that I’m 9, that I’m there to finish, to help, of course not just to score goals. I went back to being what I was before, a little like being a player on the floodplain. It is no longer that robot that used to be there.”
THE VERDICT: MORE TO COME
The Brazilian contingent at Arsenal already made Jesus feel at home from day one and playing in his preferred position will even further please the forward.
The 25-year-old was recently named as one of Arsenal’s deputy captains, further highlighting his influence in the dressing room in such a short time.
From having to play second fiddle for most of the time while at City, Jesus is now the focal point in Arsenal’s attack and as long as he stays fit, we can expect a good number of goals from him.
