Gabriel Jesus receives praise from Oleksandr Zinchenko for his dedication, work ethic, and impact since returning from injury.
Former City teammate lauds Jesus’ work ethic and influence
Arsenal’s Gabriel Jesus has made quite an impact at the Emirates Stadium since his return from a four-month injury.
Speaking to Arsenal.com, his former Manchester City teammate, Oleksandr Zinchenko, has been full of praise for the forward’s hard work and dedication during his recovery.
Recovering from injury, Jesus shines on the pitch
Jesus netted two goals against Leeds United last weekend, putting his injury troubles behind him.
Zinchenko, who closely observed Jesus’ gruelling rehabilitation process, expressed his delight at seeing his friend back on the field, performing at his best.
A special bond between Zinchenko and Jesus
Zinchenko admires Jesus’ relentless work ethic and the positive influence he has on his teammates. The Ukrainian defender shared his insights on Jesus’ drive, determination, and reaction to challenging moments in football.
“I’m so happy for him because I saw him most days during his rehab and how he was working so hard to be back on track,” he said.
“Maybe some people think that when you’re injured you just relax or are resting, but no – when you are injured you have to work twice as much as those who are fit.
“He is a special person in my life. He is an example of how hard you have to work every single day and have the right attitude. In the simple exercises we have, normally guys might use 50 per cent of their focus, but he is like an animal.
“There are a lot of frustrating moments in football such as when you don’t play much or you didn’t play well in the last game, but his reaction after those moments is incredible.
“When I was at City, I was like: ‘that’s the way you have to react to those moments’, and he was always the best on the training pitch. It’s a pleasure to have those kind of teammates.”
Jesus expected to make an impact against Liverpool
As Arsenal gear up to face Liverpool this weekend, fans are optimistic about Jesus’ contribution on the field.
Despite Liverpool’s current eighth position in the Premier League table, Zinchenko warns against underestimating their strength.
“Everyone knows how dangerous Liverpool are,” Zinchenko said, “they’re an amazing team so it doesn’t matter where they are in the table.
“Every single game against them is a massive game, especially at Anfield as it is a special place where you never know what’s going to happen.”
Zinchenko’s gratitude towards Arteta and Arsenal fans
Zinchenko, who moved from Manchester City to Arsenal in the summer, credits Mikel Arteta for his smooth transition to the new club.
“I knew Mikel for a while when I was at City, and he knows me as well as a player and a person,” Zinchenko continued.
“The impact he had – and still has – on me is a lot because I said many times that if I was going to leave City and stay in the Premier League, it would be for only one manager, which is him.
“The way he sees football, his vision, his character – he’s a winner and that’s what I like the most about people. I had a couple of conversations before I joined and he told me what he wanted to see from me, the club’s vision and I liked everything.
He also expressed his gratitude towards Arsenal fans for their warm welcome and unwavering support.
“I can’t be grateful enough for the warm welcome the supporters gave me.
“They started to sing my song after just five minutes of my first Premier League game – I couldn’t even dream of that. My wife was in the stadium at Palace and she also couldn’t believe it, she thought I had brought some friends to sing my song!
“This season the energy from the fans and the belief they have boosts us a lot. Even away from home, they do their best to push us forward, which I really appreciate.”