3 Arsenal players that’ll be most affected by Gabriel Jesus’ arrival

1. Eddie Nketiah

There were numerous doubts about Eddie Nketiah last season. Questions about his level certainly arose as did questions about possible replacements. Earlier this year, it seemed as if the academy product was going to leave on a free transfer to a club elsewhere, leaving his Arsenal career in the rearview mirror. Yet months passed, conversations took place and his signature was secured.

Flitting in and out of the team and making brief cameos off the bench, Aubameyang’s departure combined with Lacazette’s sub-par performances eventually paved the way for Nketiah to do a job. He did more than that. He showed his goalscoring instincts in big games but he has never quite been trusted to be a primary or even secondary option for the striker position. He has much to prove this coming season.

Fortunately, Jesus comes to share the goalscoring burden. The two strikers have quite similar profiles. Excellent finishing, dynamism, superb close control and dribbling are present in abundance. Arsenal fans have seen the importance of competition on the left wing, with Gabriel Martinelli and Emile Smith Rowe rising to new levels. Supporters will hope to see both Jesus and Nketiah improve as they fight for the starting spot.