Mikel Arteta has big problem to solve as £45m star warned he isn’t ‘giving Arsenal much’ anymore

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Mikel Arteta will use the international break to right Arsenal’s wrongs over the past month of action.

It’s been over a month since the Gunners last won in the Premier League, collecting just two points from their previous four matches.

Before the international break commenced, Arsenal played out a 1-1 draw with London rivals Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, ending week 11 nine points below Liverpool. 

Arteta will have his work cut out during the break in domestic action, as the prospect of dropping points when the Premier League returns could all but end the Gunners’ title hopes. 

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Arsenal sent a warning about Gabriel Jesus

It’s not all doom and gloom at the Emirates right now however, there is a lot for the manager to iron out, including individual performance.

Against Chelsea, Arsenal weren’t particularly bad but, were at a level far below that expected of the squad, with things just not ticking enough to win the contest.

Reflecting on the game was pundit Robbie Earle, who singled out Gabriel Jesus as a player Arsenal need more from to get going this season. 

“A good and firing Gabriel Jesus right now would give Arsenal a lovely option at the top end of the pitch,” Earle said on The 2 Robbies podcast. 

“He’s been a title winner, he was brought in for big money, at the moment, I’ve been slightly disappointed in what he’s brought to this group.

“I don’t particularly see what he’s giving them, what more they’re getting when he does or doesn’t play?”

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Jesus came on with 10 minutes to spare at the Bridge and lost possession four times, offering very little at a time of dire need, reinforcing Earle’s assessment.

“There’s 15 goals in a good Gabriel Jesus, there’s a goal threat, there’s hard work, there’s passion for doing the ugly side,” Earle continued.

“It should give Arsenal another option, I just thought he’s not really giving Arsenal much more than they have when he’s not playing.

“I’m slightly disappointed in him because I think he’s a better player than that.”

Jesus is giving Mikel Arteta a problem to solve

Earle raises a fair point about Jesus, who for a £45m striker, is simply not scoring enough goals. 

In his first season, the Brazilian netted 11 in all competitions but has since only found the net nine times.

Kai Havertz on the other hand has scored 21 times since arriving in 2023, making Arteta’s choice a simple one when selecting his starting number nine. 

That being said, Jesus’ talent should not be discarded, which alludes to Earle’s assessment of the player not offering half as much as he should when being called upon as a substitute.

A striker who is not clinical or confident offers very little, which gives Arteta not only a depth problem but a transfer problem, as acquiring Jesus from Manchester City has been a failure given his inability to consistently contribute. 

Arteta and Edu Gaspar did not recruit sufficiently in the summer to help bridge the glaring gap between first and second-choice strikers, leaving Arsenal incredibly short of inspiration if plan A does not work.

Jesus isn’t the only player underperforming but, for a capture costing almost £50m, his recent decline is impossible to overlook.