Gabriel Jesus: Now I'm free after leaving Guardiola
Robin Bairner
- 30 Sept 2022 09:08 BST
- 3 min read
Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus says that he was fed up with Pep Guardiola’s demands at Manchester City and feels “free” since completing a summer transfer to the Premier League leaders.
Jesus’ performances have certainly been eye-catching since moving to the Gunners, with the Brazil international having scored four times and created three goals in seven league matches for his new club.
He has now opened up on why he was so eager to make a transfer.
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Man City’s style frustrated Gabriel Jesus
“The thing was the way Guardiola understands football and what he wanted. Then it was up to you to accept it or not,” Jesus told ESPN Brasil. “If you don’t accept it, ‘thank you’ and let’s go for another challenge.
“I accepted it for a while, but there came a moment when I said: ‘I want another thing for myself.’ I thanked him, he understood, and we moved on. It is different here at Arsenal. The football is different – different players, different ways to play.
“At City, it was different. The striker didn’t touch the ball that much, you see this by watching the games. And, when it was time to touch the ball, it was not the striker, because Guardiola ended up putting a midfielder to come closer. OK, fine. So, I decided to change.
“I talked a lot with Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta about Arsenal’s style. He knows me, I know him, I understood what he wanted from me. Now, I’m free on the pitch, playing football with a smile on my face and trying to do my best all the time.”
City have not missed a beat in Gabriel Jesus’ absence, though. Erling Haaland has arrived at the club and has proven to be an excellent fit for Guardiola’s style, with the Norway international not the type of player who needs to see much of the ball. As a result, he has scored 14 goals in 10 games for the Cityzens.
Indeed, with Arsenal and Gabriel Jesus flying high, the transfer is one that has worked out well for everyone thus far.
