Mikel Arteta could finally grant Gabriel Jesus his year-long wish tonight

Arsenal play in the Carabao Cup tonight. We are well aware that's not going to fill the room with excitement, but hey, it's a match regardless.

Coaches of top teams have often resorted to using this competition as a chance to rotate the squad. Fan sentiment is that this competition doesn't mean much, at least to teams that have aspirations of winning real gold.

However, it is an invaluable resource, and Mikel Arteta will make the most of the opportunity. After Arsenal fought hard for a win at the Hill Dickinson Stadium last weekend, many players are owed a rest.

Some won't volunteer themselves to rest, but Mikel Arteta needs to take accountability here and make the tough-love decisions. There is no excuse to be starting crucial players in a competition of this small magnitude.

Enter Gabriel Jesus.

Mikel Arteta should finally grant Gabriel Jesus' longtime wish

Gabriel Jesus returned from injury this month, and after making a handful of successful cameos from the bench, it feels like he is finally ready to start a game for Arsenal.

Around this time last year, Gabriel Jesus spoke to the media about his desire to play more matches for Arsenal. Notably, he addressed wanting 'his spot' back in the starting lineup.

In his own words, Gabriel Jesus told TNT Sports in 2024: “[I feel] good. I believe that not only me but any player, all players want to have more minutes. I will obviously never cause anything inside the club."

“I believe in my potential, and I know that the fight for positions here at Arsenal is big, but I really believe I can help a lot.”

Gabriel Jesus finds himself in a similar boat to this time last year, but there is a growing feeling that he could finally see his longtime wish granted by head coach Mikel Arteta.

This week, Mikel Arteta said that Gabriel Jesus is physically ready to start games for Arsenal, but how does that add up in context?

Well, Arsenal has Viktor Gyökeres as Gabriel Jesus' main competitor in the starting lineup. However, the margins have grown thinner week-by-week, and it wouldn't hurt Gyökeres to take a backseat for this match.

Mikel Arteta hasn't given up hope on Gyökeres, and he shouldn't. Thankfully, thinking logically, tonight's selection choice is not about competition for places; it lends itself to rotating the squad for fitness preservation reasons.

If Gabriel Jesus is going to start matches in the future, which he will, then tonight's match is the perfect opportunity to get a feel of that. It is a low-stakes game, and it allows Gabriel Jesus to feel the sensation of walking out with his Arsenal peers once again.

The pecking order will naturally fluctuate, and different games call for different starters.

The fact of the matter is that Arsenal fans have waited a year to see Gabriel Jesus back in the starting lineup. Tonight just feels like the stars have aligned for Mikel Arteta to make that wish come true.