Gabriel Jesus has reiterated that he doesn’t want to leave Arsenal, and he remains driven to win trophies with the Gunners.
Gabriel Jesus made his return to the pitch for Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal side last week, after 11 months out, and he’s already had an impact on the Premier League title race.
With the Gunners level at 1-1 deep into injury time against Wolves last weekend, it was pressure from Jesus that saw Yerson Mosquera turning the ball into his own net for Arsenal’s winner. The Brazilian striker didn’t get a goal or assist, but it’s clear the goal wouldn’t happen without him.
Yet before Jesus’ on-field return, there was plenty of speculation that the striker might leave the club once he was fit. Not for the first time, Jesus has addressed the rumours by insisting he wants to stay.
“One day, I would love for everything to come full circle with Palmeiras, but not today,” Jesus wrote for The Players’ Tribune.
“I feel that I have unfinished business at Arsenal. I don’t want to leave. When I came here to join Mikel [Arteta], my purpose was not only to score goals. My purpose was to win titles.
“My strongest trait is that I will do whatever it takes to help the team win titles…I think that’s why Mikel brought me here, years ago. I don’t always need to be the number 9 to help the team.
“With this manager and this squad, we can do it. I trust my football. I trust God’s plan. And I know that if I get a chance, I can help the team with the league.”
Arsenal have just come through a difficult period in which most of their attacking options were injured. That was particularly true at centre-forward, with Jesus, Viktor Gyokeres, and Kai Havertz all out at once.
Perhaps there have been times when Arsenal needed Jesus in other positions, and perhaps there will be again. But right now, the Gunners probably just need him to be that number 9 and start scoring goals.