Gabriel Jesus backed to be huge hit at Arsenal
FT Desk
- 5 Jul 2022 17:17 BST
- 3 min read
Arsenal fans are confident that new signing Gabriel Jesus will live up to expectations at the Emirates Stadium.
The Brazil striker completed a €52 million (£45m) move from Manchester City on Monday, also signing a five-year deal at the Gunners.
The north Londoners hope that Jesus' arrival will help solve the club's problems in front of goal.
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Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's departure in January left Arsenal desperately short of options in attack, and that deficit was felt during their ultimately unsuccessful bid to make the Champions League.
Bukayo Saka ended up the club's top scorer with just 11 goals in the Premier League and the Gunners netted 61 overall, while rivals Tottenham, boosted by the strikepower of Harry Kane and Son Heung-Min, hit 69 - strikes that proved decisive as they pipped Arsenal to fourth by just two points.
Is Jesus the man to bring back the goals at the Emirates, though?
It is true that the Brazilian's productivity in front of the net in recent seasons has not been optimal, returning a total of 14 and 13 goals in his last two campaigns for City in all competitions.
Those underwhelming figures should nevertheless be weighed against the fact that Jesus often entered off the bench for Pep Guardiola's side and also spent a significant number of games on the right wing - when taking into account solely his appearances at centre-forward last season he netted nine in 23 matches, a strike-rate just shy of one every two games.
Arsenal fans convinced Jesus can deliver
Judging by a recent poll conducted by FootballTransfers, moreover, the Gunners faithful are overwhelmingly backing their new signing.
No fewer than 93 per cent of respondents believe that he will prove a hit at the Emirates Stadium, while only 7% affirmed that he will flop.
Jesus is Arsenal's fourth signing of what is turning into a busy transfer window, having already confirmed the captures of Sao Paulo teenager Marquinhos, Porto playmaker Fabio Vieira and USMNT goalkeeper Matt Turner.
