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Gabriel Jesus opened the scoring against Preston in Arsenal's 3-0 win in the Carabao Cup, but can he build on it going forward?
Arsenal cruised into the next stage of the Carabao Cup, by dismantling Preston 3-0, and while all the headlines will rightly go to youngster Ethan Nwaneri, Gabriel Jesus also found himself on the score sheet.
Given that it had been over nine months (25 games) since he found the back of the net, one could make the case that out of anyone in the squad, Jesus would benefit most from a goal.
His well-taken effort in the first half against Preston sent the Gunners on their way, and Mikel Arteta thinks that this could be the moment when Jesus takes off this season.
"His first since January I think so it’s been a long time, that’s going to, I think, unlock that thing mentally, and move on, I think he had a good performance," Arteta said via arsenal.com.
🗣️ Gabriel Jesus: “When people say [it is my first goal] since January, it looks like it's a long, long time.” 🗓️
— DailyAFC (@DailyAFC) October 31, 2024
“Obviously, it's nine months and I understand. But also people need to understand that l am starting less, I am playing less.” 🤷♂️
[@sr_collings] pic.twitter.com/84XxQRedts
Will we look back on this game in May and say that this was the moment when Jesus started his comeback to being the dominant player we know he can be? Fans sure hope so.
While the Gunners have been relatively fine with the Brazilian's absense up forward, he adds another dimension to the attack. His flair, trickery, and constant harassing of defenders are what have been missed the most.
Of course, his confidence in front of goal was shot, but his strike against Preston might have given him the boost needed to kickstart his season now.
If the Gunners are to maintain a title run, they need Jesus offering something to the team, whether that be goals, or his build-up play, just something for Arteta's side.
And his goal against Preston might just be the fire-starter needed to get him back on track.