Gabriel Jesus has admitted his disappointment at his recent lack of goals and demanded of himself and the team that they raise their level.
After such a strong start for Arsenal this season, Gabriel Jesus has dropped off a little in recent weeks. He hasn’t scored a goal since his north London derby effort on October 1st, five games ago, and he hasn’t provided an assist in the last three.
For the most part, that hasn’t been a significant issue. Arsenal have been winning games anyway, and the focus on stopping Jesus has helped others to pick up the slack.
But after the draw on Sunday, Arsenal’s first of the season, some of the focus was justifiably on the chances Jesus had missed on the day.
Afterwards, Jesus admitted that he’s not sure why his goals have dried up.
“I don’t know, I really don’t know,” Jesus said. “If I know I can tell you!
“But the only thing I can do is keep trying, keep fighting, keep improving. Like I said, I am here to score goals, I am here to help the team with the goals. I understand that. Of course, the goals are coming back soon.
“I could have scored one or two – and then we win. It’s hard, it’s difficult, it hurts, but we have to wake up, improve and come back.”
“I think we can increase the level again – everyone as a team and as an individual,” Jesus added. “We have to concentrate more, focus more.
“We go home today a little bit upset because the way we played, we could have scored more goals and then win the game.”
Mikel Arteta told his post-match press conference that he knows Jesus will be disappointed in the chances he missed.
“I’m sure that today he will be disappointed because he had the chances to put them away,” Arteta said. “Knowing Gabby, he’s disappointed when he scores two goals and could have scored three or four, so he can do that.
“But he’s having the chances and he’s always there. He gives so much to the team and it’s a shame he couldn’t put them away today.”
Still, Arsenal are obviously pleased with the new signing overall. Earlier in the week, Gunners teammate Kieran Tierney had been heaping praise on the striker.
“He’s amazing, honestly he’s one of the best if not the best I’ve played with and in training as well,” Tierney said. “He adds so much to us. He has so much experience as well.
“He is still young but he has been there and done it, he has won the league and knows what it takes. So to have someone like that come into your changing room is amazing for us.”