Arsenal legend Ian Wright posted a five-word claim about Gabriel Jesus on X after the striker scored once in the Champions League as the Gunners beat PSV Eindhoven 4-0.
The Emirates Stadium outfit enjoyed a triumphant return to UEFA’s elite club competition on Wednesday. Mikel Arteta’s squad marked Arsenal’s return to the Champions League after six years away with a thunderous performance, brushing aside the Eredivisie leaders with ease.
Goals from Bukayo Saka (8’), Leandro Trossard (20’), Jesus (38’) and Martin Odegaard (70’) put Arsenal in control against PSV. It was the perfect night in a rain-drenched north London for the home side, who made the visitors pay after trying to go toe-to-toe and man-for-man.
Saka and Jesus light up Arsenal’s return to the Champions League
An opportunity to go one-vs-one against left-back Sergino Dest pleased Saka as he relished the chances it presented. The forward ultimately scored Arsenal’s first goal after squaring up Dest and feeding Odegaard. He followed the Gunners’ captain’s shot in to bury the rebound.
Saka would again pull the strings as Arsenal doubled their lead after threading a perfect pass for Trossard to score. Trossard then turned creator as he picked Jesus out while the Brazilian burst into the box. One touch was all Jesus needed before flashing home into the far corner.
Odegaard, eventually, rounded out the scoring in the second half when the Arsenal captain drilled low into the PSV net. Emile Smith Rowe fought well to retain possession before Reiss Nelson found Odegaard in acres of space. Walter Benitez was helpless to keep the shot out.
Jesus went close to scoring several times on either side of his goal in Arsenal’s dominant win over PSV Eindhoven. Arteta’s £45m signing from Manchester City in July 2022 fired within inches of scoring before his goal when Benitez stretched to push the Brazilians’ effort away.
Wright feels Jesus is a different player after his recent knee injury
The 26-year-old teased Jerdy Schouten with his step over to work space to shoot and nearly found the top corner. Jesus’ influence on proceedings had also already shone through with a vital role in Trossard’s goal. His run from Declan Rice’s loose pass set Arsenal up to counter.
Chances continued to fall at Jesus’ feet, too, but the Arsenal star could not deliver a second goal against PSV. He came close to finding the net again in the 61st minute when Kai Havertz scooped a ball in. But Jesus would only flick his close-range effort just wide of the near post.
The PSV tie was also Jesus’ first start of the season from four appearances across Arsenal’s seven games so far. He missed the start of the campaign after undergoing a minor operation on the same knee he injured at the World Cup having felt some discomfort over pre-season.
Jesus returned with brief cameos against Fulham, Manchester United and Everton as Arteta gradually increased his minutes. The Sao Paulo-born star also scored a late goal against the Red Devils for his first of the season. But Jesus’ work as Arsenal beat PSV enthralled Wright.
The Arsenal legend believes the Champions League tie proved Jesus is fully fit once again. It was a scintillating showcase from the striker, who Wright believes is on a different level now.
Wright posted on X during Arsenal’s resounding win over PSV: “A fully fit Gabriel Jesus 🤌🏾.”
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