Gabriel Jesus is ready to fight for his Arsenal future despite links to a summer exit as Mikel Arteta eyes a new striker
GABRIEL JESUS is happy at Arsenal and prepared to fight for his place amid reports of a potential summer exit.
The Gunners striker has only scored four goals in 24 Premier League appearances this term with his momentum consistently halted by knee and hamstring issues.
Jesus, 27, has also started just four of Arsenal’s last 13 league outings, with Kai Havertz now the preferred option to lead the line. The German has eight Prem goals this calendar year.
Having signed from Manchester City for £45m in July 2022, there are suggestions that boss Mikel Arteta will consider cashing in on Brazil international Jesus in the upcoming window should offers arrive.
However, SunSport understands that Jesus is very settled in North London and has no intention of leaving, ready to put in the work to regain his place in the starting XI.
Arteta also remains a huge fan of Jesus, in particular his leadership, his mentality and impact on Arsenal’s younger players.
This is unlikely to stop the Spanish coach from going ahead with his plans to sign a world class No.9 in the coming months.
It’s an area that club officials recognise as potentially the final piece to the jigsaw in the pursuit of major honours both domestically and in Europe.
Sporting Lisbon’s Viktor Gyokeres, Red Bull Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko and Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak are currently all being monitored.
There is an acceptance on Jesus’ part that he has not hit the expected standards this campaign, with eight goals in total in all competitions.
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But with his knee trouble reportedly behind him, despite recently admitting to being in pain every time he plays, Jesus believes his form will return after an uninterrupted pre-season.
There is also the small matter of the Copa America from June 20 to July 14, with Jesus expected to be selected by Brazil should he manage to stay fit.
Jesus’ first Premier League start of this season did not come until September 24 after needing minor surgery on his reoccurring knee problems.
A hamstring injury on October 24 away at Sevilla in the Champions League kept him out for another month, before a second knee setback in late January at Nottingham Forest.
Since then, Jesus has started just four Premier League games.
It was a similar story last season, making just 26 Premier League appearances but notching 11 goals and six assists in the process.
Havertz meanwhile, signed initially from Chelsea last summer for £65m as a midfielder, is in the form of his life up top, with 11 Premier League goals to his name, including strikes in recent victories over Chelsea and Tottenham.