There has been plenty of debate over Arsenal’s striker situation, with questions raised about whether Gabriel Jesus can fire Mikel Arteta’s side to the title.
Despite Jesus’ top-class quality in buildup play, his finishing ability has been criticised, and there have been links to strikers including Ivan Toney, as it is claimed that Arteta needs to add another striker to his squad.
Jesus has been outstanding since his arrival from Manchester City last year, and what he lacks in goals, he arguably makes up for with his creativity, dribbling ability and knack of helping Arsenal’s other attacking players score more, and therefore spreads more goals around the team.
Given his excellent technical ability, his lack of composure in front of goal comes as a surprise, but pundit Craig Burley has now defended the striker, and called for him to do one thing to improve.
Does Gabriel Jesus need to change his style of play?
Speaking on the ESPN FC podcast, Burley claimed that whilst Jesus has a lot of quality in dropping deep and roaming from his position, he would increase his own goal output if he stayed in central zones more.
“Well, [Gabriel] Jesus will have to step up won’t he?” Burley stated when asked about Arsenal’s goalscoring issues.
He was then asked whether Jesus could score 25 goals in a season, and claimed that the striker needs to stick to his position more.
“Well, not between January and the end of the season, if he does that [score 25 goals] he’s going to win the Ballon d’Or! His link-up play is great but they’ve got two wide players, they’ve got Martin Odegaard, I’d like to see him just a little bit more central a little bit more often,” he continued.
“I mean I love when he comes out and he links up but the more he’s in that penalty box, clearly, the bigger chance he has of getting the goals that Arsenal need.”
Is Gabriel Jesus good enough to lead the line for Arsenal?
The Brazilian has won four Premier League titles in his career, and now has more Premier League goals than Eric Cantona.
Although he is injury-prone, Arsenal are a much better attacking side with him in the team, and signing a pure goalscorer would likely reduce the team’s overall quality going forward.
He helps get the best out of Gabriel Martinelli and Martin Odegaard, who both scored 15 league goals last season, and Jesus himself is capable of scoring, having netted in last week’s victory at Luton Town.
If Jesus does stay in central areas more, he may find himself presented with more chances to score, but Bukayo Saka and Martinelli may suffer without his movement into wide areas to create more space for them. A balance is needed, but there is no doubting Jesus’ pure footballing ability.
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