Arsenal have been urged to get rid of Gabriel Jesus following the acquisition of Viktor Gyökeres and a string of serious injuries. The Swede was snapped up at the end of July after a fallout with Sporting in a deal that reportedly could rise to €73.5 million. Following his arrival, Gyökeres is expected to become the undisputed starter up top while Kai Havertz will provide serious competition. That said, there may not be enough room for Gabriel Jesus when he makes a full recovery.
Alan Smith suggests Jesus should be moved on
Former Arsenal player Alan Smith believes the time is right to move the player on following multiple serious injuries and the arrival of Gyökeres. Speaking to Metro, Smith said: “I think somebody like Gabriel Jesus might go given his track record with injuries. He might be one that you say, thanks, and try and move him on, get a bit of money in. Obviously, with Viktor Gyökeres and Kai Havertz, there might not be too many opportunities for him this season.”
Martinelli and Trossard tipped to stay
Shifting his attention to Arsenal’s left wing dynamics, Smith urged Mikel Arteta to keep hold of Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard beyond the summer. He added: “I would be tempted to keep Leandro Trossard because he’s a versatile player who’s done well and scored important goals. I don’t think you’d want to lose him. And the same with Martinelli actually – he didn’t have the best of seasons, but I think you definitely want to keep him.”
Gabriel Jesus is currently nursing a long-term injury that he initially picked up in January. He is expected to return before the year ends, but Arsenal are reportedly open to letting him go. The performances of Viktor Gyökeres and Kai Havertz in the recent win over Athletic Club will not have helped his case either. The duo scored either side of the break as Arsenal’s strength in depth was on full display in that position. After scoring 26 goals from 96 starts, it might be time for the Brazilian to move on.
What do you make of Smith’s take on Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard? Should the Gunners actually look to hold onto the duo?
Benjamin Kenneth
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Havertz scores one goal, and all of a sudden he’s competition for the No:9 position, and better than Jesus? Mind boggling.
When it’s not Martinelli, it’s Jesus? The protection Havertz has is only comparable to “the Iron-dome” except it’s completely impenetrable.
But Havertz scores more goals than Jesus does, it’s not a question of one goal yesterday. Look at the stats. Jesus has been with Arsenal three seasons. His goal tally (all competitions) has only reached double figures once in that period – in his first season. That’s not what anyone should expect for a supposed No. 9 striker. There are midfielders who score more than that.
Havertz has always been better than Jesus for Arsenal. That’s a fact. If not for injuries, Havertz would have had more than 20 goals in all competitions last season. Jesus scored about 5 or 6 goals in 12 months. Havertz is clearly far more useful to us. And I didn’t even mention the fact that Jesus has a contract with the Arsenal doctors, something which Havertz doesn’t have
Nothing against Havertz really but I can only hope that he is ever able to display half the skill and positive effect for the team that Jesus had prior to his WC injury. Of course since March of ’23 it has been a different story with Jesus.
Keep both Trossard and Martinelli.
“Alan Smith suggests Jesus should be moved on” – 100% right, Alan, but who would take him?
He earns a reported £14m a season at Arsenal but, over three seasons, has scored only 26 goals in almost 100 appearances across all competitions. Many people would expect a “striker” to get around 20 or so in one season! At F C Barcelona, Robert Lewandowski – who is 37 later this month – scored over 40 goals last season alone.
Unless Jesus is prepared to take a massive cut in wages to facilitate a move, Arsenal will have him for the remaining two seasons of his contract – at a total cost of £28m in wages (when we’re trying to offload several players this summer who are on a small fraction of that).
Summed up well Bertie.I like Alan Smith, but surely he is aware of the difficulties which arise because of our player’s injuries and ludicrous wages.
Gabriel Jesus is a fantastic striker but he failed to develop Ruthlessness in his game.😟
Again, I think he was fast developing last season when he scored a hat trick and 2goals away at Crystal palace.
But Arteta caused his Injury, playing him on the Left wing when Sterling was on the bench.😕
And using of course, he used his Fave Havertz to start.
If not for Berta, Arteta will play Havertz as striker till 2035.😏😕
He is NOT a striker 100%
I appreciate what Jesus did when he joined, and his work ethic and professionalism.
Even so, he simply is not a striker and never will be. We can’t afford passengers, especially ones that bag 14 million a year, according to rumors.
Simply have to move on, we have “outgrown” both Jesus and Zinchenko, and silly to pay those wages to a 3rd choice striker and 3rd choice LB.
Trossard should stay 100%. Martinelli, needs to up his game million %.
We will wait with anticipation, for the day Havertz hits double digits without penulty hand overs “to boost his confidence” that seems to be forever at ground level.
I can’t erase his embarrassing show in the US in his first preseason outing. Lucky he’s treated like a 16 yr old whose potential is yet to be uncovered – coming at a hefty cost.
So you obviously didn’t see his display when he came on yesterday then?
If his confidence was at such a low level, he wouldn’t have taken on and beaten two defenders and the keeper when scoring his goal.
One doesn’t have to be a striker to score goals and it’s how Havertz reads the game, makes room for others and is a team player that counts.
Kai had some very difficult times in the first half of ’23 and while I felt he had big potential (based on what I saw at Chelsea) I was a big critic of his play and MA’s decision to keep him on the pitch at the time. To his credit, he has continued to work hard, turned it around and typically has a positive effect on team play.
Jesus is not getting sold this window with his injury as will be at a rock bottom price…
If he is going to be fit to play in Nov I would.keep.him and play him in some games to get a good fee in Jan. And if not forced to play as before now that we have a bigger squad he might be a super sub this season!
He will get sold in Jan or next summer though
Am I the only one thinking that a proper back up striker is also needed.
Because should Gyokeres is missing for whatever reason, we’ll be back to square one regards a proper striker. And that means using Havertz or Merino in the striking role. Not ideal, as they can do a job. But the club needs more that just doing a job.
Because of his work rate, I thought Jesus would be better in a central midfield role
I’ve been thinking about this whole notion about no one being willing to pay what we pay him. However, Jesus has to think for himself as well. There’s no way he will get into the Brazil national team if he’s warming the bench (or even fit), with us. He needs to move on for his own sake as well.
I agree. but he doesn’t appear to be thinking along those lines currently. Anyway, we’ll have to wait and see (and hope) – and keep on paying him.