Starting to think him and Zinchenko were double agents sent by pep. To make it believable, they had to start strong to lull the team into a false sense of security before carrying out their mission. Or maybe they are sleeper agents, pep has their keys.
I just think they both had a ceiling and the squad has simply surpassed their level. They were certainly important in getting us further up the table and competing, but the overall profile of the team has evolved and subsequently outgrown Jesus and Zinchenko. They haven't just become bad players overnight and I'm sure Jesus' performance levels will improve at least a little. But what's happened is that they've simply become obsolete, something I did predict may happen after a couple of seasons.
Mustafi deserved the criticism. Him, David Luiz, Xhaka and Giroud held the club back for years. Those guys simply didn't have a high ceiling. I like Jesus, but the injuries and that last world cup has ****ed him psychologically.
I see your point but I do think though that with both players, their performances have dropped irregardless of how the club has improved relatively to their quality if you get what I mean.
22/23 version of Jesus looked world class, unless it was just a purple patch. Kinda like 13/14 Ramsey who I never rated, but was incredible in the first half of that season before he inevitably got injured. That Jesus was leading the press from the front, linking up play, dribbling in tight spaces for fun, creating chances and scoring some goals. He looked like the most complete CF in football.
I don't disagree, I think both things can be true. With the growing level of the team, their not-so-great performances are far more magnified for sure. I think part of the issue is that both players appear quite emotionally driven - so when they are feeling good, they're amazing and when they're not feeling good, they're 2 packs of doo-doo chips. Given that both players are no longer the sure starters they were when they joined, that must be playing a part.
seems like Martinelli is next on the list
I'm not sure about that, Jesus did turn into a bad player "overnight/injury day" and never recovered. I'd take City Jesus or early days Arsenal Jesus over Martinelli any day, it wouldn't even be a competition. I think Arteta still thinks he has something but this business is brutal and Jesus needs to find something before January to survive here.
I think there's widespread disappointment because he was so good early on. Still clinging to the hope that he can get back to that level.
For me, what you said in accurate regarding Zinchenko, but not Jesus. Jesus basically fell off after the WC injury. He was absolutely on fire prior to that.
It's obvious it already is Martinelli, and well deserved tbh
