Gabriel Jesus has now admitted to considering questioning Mikel Arteta about his role at Arsenal so far this season having not played in his preferred position after his injury.
The 26-year-old started this term on the sidelines after requiring minor surgery on the knee he initially injured last winter. Jesus felt some discomfort in the same knee he originally hurt at the World Cup. He needed surgery for damaging his medial collateral ligament with Brazil.
Jesus missed three months of last season after requiring surgery in December but only sat out three games this term. Arteta welcomed the striker back into the fold as Arsenal drew at home to Fulham. He has since scored three goals from nine appearances in all competitions.
Arsenal’s injury plight has forced Arteta to use Jesus as a winger
But Jesus has only started five of his matches and has further only opened two of those as a striker. He played there in the Champions League against PSV Eindhoven and RC Lens. Yet injuries with Arsenal’s other forwards have made Jesus start out wide in the Premier League.
Arteta started Jesus as a left-winger against Tottenham Hotspur and AFC Bournemouth with Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard unfit. Bukayo Saka missing Manchester City’s visit to Emirates Stadium then saw Jesus replace the 22-year-old on the right as Trossard returned.
Jesus admits to having frustrations about his position this season
Jesus has shown Arteta that he remains Arsenal’s finest striker over Eddie Nketiah with two goals in the Champions League. He also hit home against Manchester United after replacing the 24-year-old during the second half. But injuries have demanded that he starts out wide.
Featuring as a winger is not what Jesus envisaged when he joined Arsenal in a £45m move from Manchester City in July 2022. He made it clear to Arteta and sporting director Edu that he wanted to play centrally. So, to not have that role this season has frustrated the forward.
Jesus has even considered questioning Arteta about his decision to field the £265k-a-week attacker on the wings at Emirates Stadium. But he accepts that the Gunners coach has taken advantage of the Sao Paulo natives’ versatility to cope with the absences of others this term.
“When I chose to transfer from City to Arsenal, Edu and Arteta spoke to me, and I made it clear that I would like to play as a ‘nine’,” Jesus has stated, via quotes by 90min. “This was Arsenal’s idea – for me to play as a ‘nine’, loose. This season has been different.
“We have had injuries and in the last three games, I played on the wing. For a while, I thought about saying that I want to play as a ‘nine’. But I’m here to help the team.
“I am blessed by God to have this talent and the versatility to play in the three front positions. I prefer not to choose.”
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