Iconic former Arsenal striker Ian Wright has demanded more from Gabriel Jesus.
No one can doubt the immense talent that Gabriel Jesus possesses. The £45 million Brazilian is capable of incredible skill and brings so much energy and unpredictability to the way that Arsenal attack when he is on the pitch.
However, there is a glaring weakness in the striker’s game. Jesus’ finishing is inconsistent at best. Already this season, against Manchester United, he has shown that he is capable of great composure in front of goal. He produced a cool, classy finish against the Red Devils.
However, Arsenal fans saw the opposite of that against Tottenham Hotspur. Jesus passed up a huge opportunity to score in Sunday’s north London derby.
After doing brilliantly to nick the ball off James Maddison in the Spurs box, the 61-cap Brazil international then had a clear sight of goal. However, Jesus snatched at the chance and lashed the ball over the bar. In such a fiercely contested fixture, the 26-year-old needed to do better with this opportunity.
Jesus has point to prove at Arsenal
Ian Wright certainly wanted more from Jesus in this moment. Speaking to Premier League Productions (25/09/2023, 14:30), he said, “he makes me feel really like frustrated. When you see him go through against Manchester United. That’s clinical finishing. When you are finishing and you get yourself in a situation where you have done the hard work – where is that mindset?”
“This one [the chance against Tottenham], with everything at his mercy, he blasted it. It really makes me wonder why he did that. I was very surprised. I was not expecting him to miss the whole part.”
As Arsenal’s senior striker, Mikel Arteta needs to be able to rely on Jesus to take big chances in crucial matches. For all his skill and dynamism, there is a limit on how far the player can take this team if he isn’t able to raise his level in this aspect of the game.
Recent transfer links with Brentford striker Ivan Toney, as reported by The Mirror, suggest that Arteta and sporting director Edu are already considering making a move for a forward who can be more clinical in front of goal than Jesus.
Until anyone new arrives at the Emirates Stadium, Jesus must fight to prove that he can be the complete, reliable goalscorer that the Gunners need.
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