Gabriel Jesus: 4 reasons Arsenal should sign Man City striker

Arsenal still have plenty of time remaining before they can start dipping into the transfer market, with their Premier League fate far from sealed.

The opportunities that open up for a side playing in the Champions League in comparison to the Europa League are vast. All of the finest and most aspiring players on the continent want to be competing with and against the very best.

Getting into the top four can have a transformative impact on the Gunners’ future. Who they can sign and what funding they have to do so is all contingent on a top four place.

Yet while there are still uncertainties over what the club’s pulling power may be with five matches standing between them and the elusive fourth spot, Arsenal are already sowing their seeds as they aim to position themselves ahead of the market opening.

Gabriel Jesus: 4 reasons Arsenal should sign Manchester City striker as Mikel Arteta and Edu eye bargain transfer for Brazilian striker

"Edu confirmed that preparations are well underway: “Our planning has already been done, it has already reached the owners. It’s a matter of step by step, how we are going to finish the season and to put in plan the planning that I’m very excited about.”"

Part of their planning includes Manchester City’s Gabriel Jesus. Talks have been ongoing for months between Edu and the players’ representatives about a move to the capital, with his playing time set to suffer further when Erling Haaland inevitably makes the move to Greater Manchester.

Arsenal have carved themselves something of a niche in the transfer market when it comes to signing players top sides who may just has fallen by the wayside or out of favour. Martin Odegaard and Alexis Sanchez are recent examples, while you can also go further back and list Dennis Bergkamp and Thierry Henry as similar purchases

And you know what? This is one would work, too – even if three players called Gabriel might kill Arteta’s vocal chords and be incredibly confusing.

Here are four reasons Arsenal should sign Gabriel Jesus.

1. A Good Price for a Good Age

While price should never solely dictate whether you sign a player, it does have an impact. So, starting with this side of the deal, it feels a bit like a open invitation.

With just one year left on his contract come the summer and no signs of a renewal on the table, it puts Manchester City in a position where they’re effectively being forced to sell. Haaland will lead the line, Jack Grealish will probably get more minutes out wide and Jesus will see his playing time heavily depleted.

They need to make some money back on him.

Signed for £27m in the summer of 2016 – he officially joined in the winter 2017 – the talk is that City will want a fee not too dissimilar from that (€30m/£25m). That’s considerably less than the £75m figures for other options on the market, and it allows Arsenal to spread their expenditure across more positions (including another striker).

Given he’s only got a year left on his deal it may seem somewhat steep, but there will be unquestionable interest in his signature over the summer – and his age is a big selling point.

Turning 25 years old earlier in April, this is someone with his best years ahead of him. Arsenal will be wanting to sign a striker who isn’t a project player and doesn’t arrive with no chance of resale value, and Jesus fits neatly into the recruitment strategy at the club.

Arteta discount, maybe?

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2. Gabriel Jesus Has Premier League Experience

155 Premier League matches is nothing to be scoffed at.

It can never be understated just how transformative a new centre-forward can be to this team. Nowhere across the lineup is there a more gaping hole than in the No. 9 position. While there will (ideally) be a whole pre-season to bed the new striker(s) in, if they arrive with experience of the division already it’s a major advantage. It never isn’t.

When Jesus came to England he did not possess the physical qualities he now has. Bulking out, how he engages in duels and shields the ball are all skills he’s picked up and worked on during his time in this division.

Additionally, he now knows the language, the culture, the weather – London will feel tropical by comparison – and what is required to compete at the highest level. Arteta knows him better than most, too.

Not all players can make the transition, in some cases it can take a year or two, so parting with cash on a player you have certainty can come straight into his new environment and be mentally and physically prepared is a huge bonus.

Because, while there is plenty of centre-forward talent out there, it’s impossible to say with absolute certainty that any one of them will be a certified success in the Premier League. Few take like a duck to water.

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3. Gabriel Jesus Has Quality in Abundance

Sure, he may be a bargain, at a good age, and have experience of the division. But is he actually half decent?

Yes, he is.

Any player will struggle for regular minutes at Manchester City. It’s Manchester City, after all. What he is is the definition of a team player. A true work horse. Someone who does will sacrifice his own contributions for the sake of the collective. Arteta will like that.

Technically there is a lot to like as well. Jesus has incredibly quick feet in tight spaces, can go either side on both feet and is a really precise passer of the ball. While he isn’t the tallest striker in the world it’s one of the least essential qualities required for Arsenal (especially with another option coming in), but he uses his body well.

Dropping deep to hold up play or link with others, this aspect of his game is heavily underrated. When Man City do go long he’s their best outlet, as his excellent jumping and pace in behind help them play with verticality.

There is so much to like: quick, clever, dedicated, energetic, creative and technical. What is missing? It’s plain to see the drawback comes in the form of his ruthlessness in front of goal. Yet to come into his prime, he still isn’t an elite striker of the ball and the lack of confidence in front of goal is something he needs to work on.

Across his time in the Premier League he’s underperformed his xG by around 20 (meaning he’s scored 20 fewer goals than he should have), although he answered some critics when he went and bagged four goals against Watford last time out.

From a profile perspective he really does suit Arsenal.

Is he the one to rest the main goalscoring burden on? Perhaps not, but he has so much potential on top of an already excellent all-round skill set.

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4. Gabriel Jesus is Versatile & Knows the System

Not only would Jesus be arriving with experience of the division, he’ll be heading into a team with a similar system to the one he’s just leaving. After all, Arteta used to coach him, and his footballing principles are heavily based around those of Pep Guardiola.

Given the embarrassment of riches at Guardiola’s disposal, Jesus has often found himself out in wide areas, predominately the right, where his excellent crossing ability and work rate in behind stretch defences and open spaces for others.

He would come with versatility to play across the front three, something Arteta not only favours on account of his fluid positional play system, but also because it allows him to maintain a smaller squad, which he heavily favours. In Martinelli and Jesus there would be wide players for either flank who can both go centrally. Those options are something Arteta sees as a major positive.

As a No. 9 Jesus can playing the facilitating role as well as on the shoulder of the defender to run in behind, while on the wings his creativity and strong deliveries are largely why he’s clocked up 46 assists in 230 outings for City. As for the goals, it’s 93 in total, which means 139 goal involvements despite being under heavy rotation for much of his time at the club.

And, yes, the counter argument is that he’s playing in possibly the best team in the world with some of the best creators in the world, which while understandable to a degree, doesn’t alter how hard it is to find rhythm when you’re in such esteemed company all vying for minutes.

Even if he’s not first choice at Arsenal, he’ll still get more minutes than he’s getting at City.

Premier League experienced

Good age

Bargain price

Knows Arteta/the system

Incredible attitude/application

Versatile

Has quality in abundance

It does make a lot of sense. Perhaps not to lead the line for the next five years, but certainly to tussle for the shirt.