Arsenal star Gabriel Jesus admits he ‘could do better’ but the forward is ready to do ‘everything’ to help his team after Mikel Arteta changed his role at Manchester City.
The 27-year-old made his 20th appearance of the Premier League season at Etihad Stadium in Sunday’s goalless draw. But Arteta unleashed Jesus from their left flank for only the third time with the Spaniard benching Leandro Trossard and managing Gabriel Martinelli’s return.
Trossard had started in Arsenal’s previous top-flight fixture at home to Brentford and against FC Porto in the second leg of their Champions League last 16 win. While Martinelli made his return from a cut to a foot away to the Citizens as a 78th-minute substitute for Bukayo Saka.
Gabriel Jesus made his first Premier League start since January at Manchester City
Jesus also left the pitch at Manchester City before full-time as Arteta introduced Trossard in the 72nd minute from Arsenal’s bench. The Brazilian had an often frustrating game away to his former club. But he never shied from his tasks and fired two shots wide in the first half.
It was arguably through Jesus that Arsenal also had their best chances to score against their title rival. Yet the Gunners’ normal centre-forward either just missed the mark or the ball in his first start since January. Jesus last opened a game at Nottingham Forest before his injury.
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Arteta had limited Jesus’ involvement before the March international break after returning from another aggravation of the knee injury he initially sustained at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. It came after Jesus reached four goals and three assists in the top-flight this season.
Gabriel Jesus ‘could do better’ but will do ‘everything’ to help Arsenal win
Jesus now admits he ‘could do better’, too, after failing to score in a Premier League fixture for the 16th time this term in Arsenal’s stalemate with Manchester City. But as long as he is helping Arteta’s side to deliver, the Brazilian is happy with whatever role the coach requires.
“The way I am, I try everything I can to help my team,” Jesus said, via quotes by 90min. “It doesn’t matter where I play, I always try to do my best. I did it [at Manchester City], I was very deep. Normally, I am not that deep but I had to play as the winger.
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“I think I help my team playing like this. And then, also, when we [were in the final third], I created some chances. I could do a little bit better but football is like this sometimes. This is the most beautiful part of the season, you try everything to win titles.
“It’s the Premier League, it’s a tough league and anything can happen. It is only two points the difference [to Liverpool] and then we have a very good goal difference. Everything counts at the end but there are still a lot of games.”