It was hard not to be happy to see a smile back on Gabriel Jesus’ face last night. It’s no exaggeration to say maybe even the player himself assumed evenings like this have passed him by in our famous colours, and it’s one he certainly won’t take for granted.
Some Gooners are frustrated at the moment about our recent failure to make lots of chances. Very un-Arsenal like. Our need for a new striker remains a talking point within our fan base.
Yet Jesus hasn’t been given a hard time by supporters like a Martinelli, Trossard, Havertz, etc. Rightfully many sympathize with the Brazilian for a serious knee injury at the 2022 World Cup, which means the player has never quite been the same.
It’s an issue which keeps recurring and it seems that in terms of ever starting every week In North London again, the mind is willing, but the body is not.
The 27-year-old has never come across as having an issue with confidence and you can never fault his work rate, but this would be the first time in his career he’s had to worry about a goal drought. Balancing that while trying to stay fit is a lot to juggle.
All parties seem to have accepted this will be his last campaign in the Emirates, with some reports even suggesting clubs in South America might welcome the player home if he feels he can’t handle the physicality of European football anymore.
It would mean his legacy as a Gunner being a ‘what if’. His winning mentality made him a leader in a young dressing room, but injuries meant he couldn’t maintain the form he began with.
Yet sometimes timing is everything. Timing can often be dictated by luck.
Without the Carabao Cup, Jesus was running out of many more opportunities to start. If his lack of goals impacted his self-belief that wasn’t apparent in his finishing on Wednesday.
His hat trick surely means he starts at Selhurst Park either on the left or instead of Havertz? Havertz has been better than I thought since we brought him from Chelsea and offers great hold up play, but is never going to be a natural goal scorer.
Even when not scoring, Jesus’s footwork and movement makes him unpredictable. If he could score against the same opponents on Saturday suddenly, he would have momentum over the Xmas period. That’s how quickly things can change.
Should Jesus start this weekend?
Dan
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Most definitely
He should start and give him a chance to to keep it going
He looked a different player once the first one went in
I would disappointed if MA drops him to the bench.
Onwards a d upwards
Yes I would start him this weekend while his confidence is high. Mind you it just goes to show how marginal decisions can change a players performance, his 2nd goal was clearly offside and would have been disallowed if VAR was in use and maybe Jesus wouldn’t have gone on to score his hat trick, who knows. Let’s hope he has turned a corner and can get some more goals for us.
Jesus.
Sterling. Odegaard. Saka.
Rice. Partey.
Tierney. Gabriel. Saliba. Timber.
Raya.
Still feel Trossard is the best wing option but Sterling was half decent against Palace. I would go with that line up !!!
Sterling is a veteran not accustomed to being played a few minutes every month. Needs minutes. I’d start Saka, let Sterling recover but bring him in to eat minutes for Saka after about 80 minutes or when we have a 2 goal lead.
He should be replacing Martinelli not Havert
Here’s a strange one for you perhaps. Don’t laugh too loud, but put Havertz back in the #8, Jesus as the striker, and, here’s the kicker to my looney idea, Sterling on the left. At least initially, Rice in the middle. Martin and Bukayo on the right of course. Tierney on the left, Gabriel and Saliba in the middle, and Timber back on the right.
Not a bad lineup, except for Havertz as an 8. The midfield is unbalanced, and he struggles to impact the game as a 10 or false 9; not that he has impacted much recently as a false 9.
I would also play Tierney again, maybe not start though. Offering something different, “Versatility” with tactics not just among players.
I think benching Havertz against Palace for Jesus sends a proper message to the squad as a whole.
If you are not producing, then other are there to step in. If you are working hard and improving, you will get a chance.
Never been a fan of automatic starters, unless you are Messi or Ronaldo, a generational talent that speaks for itself.
The team needs a spark from somewhere or someone, so time to try a different starter here or there, or a different combination here or there.
I think Havertz took the flack for Jesus and Martinelli when he was left 8. Like yes Havertz wasn’t great himself but when them two where underperforming themselves every stuck the knife In Havertz because he was ex Chelsea. Havertz as an attacking left 8 is better fit than Rice or Merino against teams that play a low block. Maybe Havertz at 8, Jesus at 9 and Trossard on the left so we have someone clinical on the field.
yes i would start Jesus, why not, goals often come in gluts for strikers
or may be left wing as zero coming from there right now
more important is Odegaard who has to start, and start well
Timber at right back, hopefully Calafiori back from injury on the left
not sure Rice makes us better as the left #8 right now
are we afc fans the biggest moaners in the pl ? i am not
sure but we are sometimes to quick to discard players
if they have an off game. luckily the season is long and
anything can happen .. if fringe players are sold next year
we should go all in for Oshimen
Absolutely! We need to take full advantage of the confidence he will have.
Our Manager would be mad not to start him, but I suspect he could be on the left wing to accommodate Havertz who is due a good performance?
With his performance in the first game he should definitely get the nod for this game. His confidence will be the highest it has been for a while, and we have to take advantage of that.
The quickest way to lose his confidence is to bench him. He must start in my opinion, and as he’s the current holder of the starting place, it’s his to lose isn’t it.
DEREK
Strongly agree, starting the much malign Brazilian for this one, has to be a no brainer.
His name has to be the first one on the team sheet, A return to life of the former Man City man, could well be just what the doctor ordered for Arsenal shaky start to the campaign.
Yes I think so. It’s worth a shot
1. He scored 3 against CP so deserves a chance
2. We play CP again lol
3. Maybe he can go on goal scoring run. Maybe he can go on a roll lol
It’s time Arteta starts playing G.jesus alongside Havertz and not alternately
Jesus onthe left, Saka on the right and Havertz at C.f is the most potent attack we can have for now.
We should be starting with the best possible 11 to give us a chance of seeing off matches earlier,other than waiting until when we are under pressure to win before making substitutions.
I also expect K.T to start on the left to keep the momentum while Calafiori comes on later as he regains match fitness.
I am not worried if he starts as we have plenty of games coming, the important matter is that he has shown that he can play at that level and is there when we need him. Tierney has shown he is ready too.
Unless someone can see the future nobody knows this answer. Both Gabriel and Havertz are not good enough to be 9’s for the whole season. And Jesus will be injured before 2025 again anyways. Neither of our forwards guarantees goals. So its a matter of flipping a coin.
Jesus should NOT start against CP. He just played 90 minutes for the first time in a long while. Not sure he is up for it again after a few days of rest. Start Havertz and bring Jesus in as an impact sub for Havertz. Start Martinelli and have Trossard as impact sub. Stick it to CP early and give Sterling some more minutes as a sub for Saka. Sterling needs minutes to regain his form. He is not accustomed to being a sub, lost his edge.sharpness and needs minutes to come good again. This will rest Starboy to be more energetic and lethal when he is needed.
philmar,
Why not start Jesus, and then substitute him at some point if your worried he can’t manage two games in three days.
His last performance warrant’s a start in the next game. He’s earned it. 😉👍
Please don’t start Partey at RB. He broke playing there last year. Timber is a force at RB. Play Kiwior at LB (who was excellent at that position last year). He seems to struggle when placed in a CB role. At LB his mistakes can be fixed by Big Gabby/Saliba.
Or play Zinny at LB. We had ball dominance against CP this week. This is a good game for Zinny as he won’t be under too much pressure to defend.
Does one good performance in such a long time count as good form?
Not for me. He’s been pretty awful for a while now, and although Havertz hasn’t been amazing lately, I’d still go with him. This will be a much tougher and physical game at Selhurst park.
I doubt arteta will start Jesus on Saturday, the reason being not only Jesus played the full 90 on Wednesday but also Palace will have a different approach to the one on Wednesday in that they will not go all out to beat arsenal and mostly they will have a low block. Jesus will definitely come on in the second half to unlock things but since he has just played the full 90, I think he should not start.
a big yes for me
I think he would be a good substitute. However, KH has not been convincing to lead the attack. Our attack has been dull and blunt each time he leads. In short, he should start as he has earned it, KH should also earn it if and when he gets to come in as sub latter on. Martinelli should also be made to sit out few games to learn some basics and improve his game.
My predicted line up is
Raya
Timber…….Saliba……..Gabriel……..Tieney/Kelly
Odegard……………..Partey…………………..Moreno
Saka…………………….Jesus……………………..LT
Sub
KH,Nwaneri, Kiwor, Calafiori, Sterling, Martinelli KT/Kelly,Keeper