Gabriel Jesus sends a message to Arsenal’s top January target

Carlo Garganese

• Updated: 22 Dec 2024 04:38 CST
• 4 min read

Gabriel Jesus has emphatically shut the door on any potential January swap deal with Dusan Vlahovic after a stunning week in front of goal.

At the start of the week reports began to swirl that the Gunners were set to make a January swap offer for Vlahovic which would see Gabriel Jesus move to Juventus as a makeweight in the deal.

Jesus had fallen well down the pecking order with Arsenal over the last 18 months, while Vlahovic was continuing to disappoint with his overall game in Turin.

READ MORE: Arsenal top scorers 2024/25: Who is leading the club's goal rankings?

It was a swap deal that was said to suit both parties. Arsenal needed a natural number nine like Vlahovic with the potential to score lots of goals, while Juventus needed a striker with the ability of Jesus’ to drop deep and link the play.

Fichajes reported among others that Arsenal would offer cash plus Gabriel Jesus in order to bring Vlahovic to the Emirates in January.

However, those reports will now cool after a brilliant week for Jesus in which he has scored five goals in two matches.

First of all, the Brazilian hit a brilliant hattrick in the League Cup as Arsenal defeated Crystal Palace at the Emirates on Wednesday.

And then, against the same opposition on Saturday in the Premier League, Jesus struck twice in the first 14 minutes as Arsenal thrashed Palace 5-1 at Selhurst Park.

In the space of three days, Jesus moved from one goal for the season to six as the Brazilian sent a message to Arteta and Vlahovic about his quality and importance to Arsenal.

READ MORE: Latest Arsenal transfer news

Juventus will still listen to offers in January as Vlahovic’s contract expires in 2026 and renewal talks are making little progress.

Vlahovic is also the highest paid player in Serie A and Juve would like to get his wages off their books.

The Serbian has been a long-term target of Arteta, who tried to sign him when he joined Juventus from Fiorentina for €80 million in January 2022.

Vlahovic was considered one of the best young talents in Europe when joining Juve but he has largely failed to live up to his promise in the three years since arriving.

Jesus struggles at Arsenal

As for Jesus, he was a big signing at Arsenal when he joined from Man City for over €50m in the summer of 2022.

The Brazilian enjoyed an excellent start to his Gunners career. However, over time a combination of a lack of goals and fitness issues have seen Jesus fall down the pecking order.

So much so that manager Mikel Arteta has in the past year preferred playing a natural midfielder in Kai Havertz as a false nine rather than starting Jesus.

Last season was something of a disappointment as he scored just four Premier League goals and eight in all competitions.

But he is now up to six in all competitions this season after a brilliant week that could reignite his Arsenal career.