Arsenal forward Gabriel Jesus has responded to many of his critics in recent days.
In the last five days Gabriel Jesus has scored five goals for Arsenal. On Wednesday evening, the Brazilian attacker netted a hat-trick as the Gunners triumphed over Crystal Palace in an EFL Cup quarter final clash.
On Saturday, Arsenal put the Eagles to the sword again, with Jesus bagging a brace in a 5-1 Premier League victory at Selhurst Park.
Prior to this flurry of goals, the 27-year-old had scored just once for the Gunners since January. However, Jesus has at least maintained his personal Premier League record of never losing a game in the top flight of English football that he has scored in.
Frank Leboeuf highlights Gabriel Jesus pattern
Despite Jesus’ dramatic return to form, former Chelsea star Frank Leboeuf is convinced that Mikel Arteta still needs to be on the hunt for a new goalscorer.
The Brazil international’s opener on Saturday came as he drifted in from the left wing to lash in a cross at the back post. His second came when a set-piece eventually arrived at his feet on the edge of the box.
Analysing these goals for ESPN, Leboeuf spotted a pattern.
The Frenchman said: “I want to say something about Jesus. Gabriel Jesus scored two goals when he’s not in the position of a striker, and he missed two goals when he was in the position of a striker, with the header that Havertz scored, he missed it because of the post, and the second one he missed it as well.
“That’s crazy because he doesn’t answer the question. They’re still looking for a striker for me, they still don’t have a striker.”
Do Arsenal still need to sign a striker in January?
Arsenal have been told to sign a striker in January, and there is certainly an argument that the Gunners still lack firepower in their ranks.
However, unless an opportunity to bring in a top target for a fair fee arises this winter, Arteta may now be tempted to invest his full faith in the resurgent Jesus.
The former Manchester City star has certainly inserted himself back into the debate as to who should be the first choice to lead the line for the North London club.
However, plenty of Arsenal fans want to see a new attacker signed following Bukayo Saka’s injury, so Arteta’s hand in the transfer market may well be forced by fitness factors in any case.
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