Gabriel Jesus has been linked with a move from Arsenal, despite returning from a long injury absence and contributing to the Gunners’ victory over Wolves in the Premier League.
Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus has not ruled out a return to Brazil at some point. But for now, the South American is determined to stay at the Emirates Stadium and finish what he started.
Jesus, 28, won four Premier League titles with Manchester City before joining Arsenal in 2022. The Gunners have finished second in each of their three full seasons in North London, but at the time of writing they are top of the table.
The forward was plagued by injuries during his stay in the capital, making just 98 appearances in three and a half seasons. This has led to speculation that he could return to his boyhood club Palmeiras, but that doesn’t seem to be happening anytime soon.
“People asked, ‘Why don’t you leave? Why don’t you go to Saudi Arabia? Or do you go back to your native Brazil?'” Jesus wrote in the Players’ Tribune. “I hope that one day everything will turn around in Palmeiras, but not today.
“I feel like I have unfinished business at Arsenal. I don’t want to leave. When I came here with Mikel (Arteta), my aim wasn’t just to score goals. It was to win titles.”
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He continued: “When I came to the Premier League, I think most people’s reaction was ‘Oh? Who is this kid?'” They saw me as a pure goalscorer. But I don’t see myself that way. My biggest trait is that I will do whatever it takes to help the team win the title.
“At City, I played many roles. Sometimes I shared the goal-scoring duties with[Sergio]Aguero, sometimes I played on the wing, sometimes I used my physicality to link plays. I think that’s why Mikel brought me here all those years ago. I don’t necessarily have to be a number nine to help the team.”
“I’m not here for the weather yet, am I? I’m here to make history.”
Jesus has just returned from injury after injuring his anterior cruciate ligament in January when Arsenal faced Manchester United in the FA Cup. He was instrumental in last weekend’s win against Wolves, challenging Elson Mosquera when the defender headed a shot into his own net, but manager Mikel Arteta has hinted that midfielder Mikel Merino could lead the backline against Everton on Sunday.
“He is an option and he has given us every reason to seriously consider him. You can see it in the goals he has scored,” Arteta told reporters on Friday. Merino started on the bench against Wolves and then came on in midfield, with summer signing Victor Goqueres starting up front and Jesus replacing the Swede in the closing stages.
Arsenal could go into Saturday’s trip to Hill Dickinson Stadium in second place. Title rivals Manchester City play in the early hours of Saturday, while West Ham United visit the Etihad Stadium.
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