Gabriel Jesus’s Man City form is bad news for Arsenal

Edu announced that transfer plans for the summer have already been submitted by Arsenal to the club hierarchy, indicating a firm plan is in place for the upcoming window’s activity.

Mikel Arteta backed these sentiments up ahead of facing West Ham, stating that the ‘plan is very clear’ in terms of what the club aim to achieve over the off-season.

Whether or not they secure a Champions League place is undoubtedly going to have an impact in that, with the additional finances and allure of elite European competition key in securing and attracting the best talent going.

One of those being eyed appears to be Gabriel Jesus.

Gabriel Jesus’s Man City form is bad news for Arsenal who could see their summer transfer target stay at Premier League rivals or command a bigger fee

No player has been as concretely linked with a move to Arsenal as the Manchester City striker, who faces uncertain times as his contract enters its final year with Pep Guardiola’s side largely expected to bring in Erling Haaland from Borussia Dortmund in the summer.

Another forward is already confirmed to be moving to the Premier League side as City wrapped up a deal for River Plate’s Julian Alvarez in January, and he will make the permanent move at the end of the season.

That leaves little room for Jesus in the side – someone who already struggled to nail down a starting berth in the team – which opened a hugely inviting door for Arsenal to swing in and secure his signature. Edu has been in talks with the Brazilian’s representatives for months as he irons out the ground work of the deal.

It’s a move that suits Arsenal perfectly. Jesus is of a good age, has strong technical ability, has played at the top level for years, and can operate across the front three. Add to that a reduced fee given his contract situation and it feels like no-brainer.

But Pep does Pep things. Ever since the news broke Jesus has not only been starting matches, he’s finding the net in them too.

Scoring four against Watford in the league he then followed that up with a start at centre-forward against Real Madrid, whom he scored against, then got another nod at No. 9 against Leeds on Saturday…whom he also scored against.

His form is, ironically, unfavourable for Arsenal.

This was a deal Arsenal could almost sneak under the radar. Jesus hadn’t been a permanent fixture in the side, was underperforming his xG – which helps snap players up for less – and no other known suitors have been snooping around.

Now negotiations will be complicated. Guardiola may be having a rethink for him to stay with these regular starts, other sides may gain interest and the fee in question could steadily climb. Arsenal do seem like a logical and suitable fit for him with only the biggest sides in Europe theoretically in a position to secure him, but it does muddy the waters.

Equally, with or without Haaland, it may be that City become content keeping him until the end of his deal and then let him go on a Bosman in the 2023. Money is no problem for them and it could be considered an option.

While it’s fantastic to see a potential Arsenal striker scoring goals, it makes what seemed like being a fairly simple deal to pull off that bit trickier. Whether he stays, costs more, or moves elsewhere, he’s timed his form at a disadvantageous moment.