Arsenal make feelings about January move for Gabriel Jesus clear
Jesus has started only one Premier League game all season
Arsenal have dismissed any potential transfer of fringe forward Gabriel Jesus, according to Palmeiras president Leila Pereira.
The Brazilian’s former club has reached out to the Gunners about a potential reunion in January, following Jesus’ lack of playing time this season.
He has started only one Premier League match this season and has primarily come on as a substitute, while Kai Havertz has taken the lead in the attack.
As winners of the 2021 Copa Libertadores, Palmeiras are preparing for next summer’s newly expanded Club World Cup in the U.S.
The tournament will feature several European giants, including Chelsea, Real Madrid, and Manchester City.
However, it appears that Jesus will not be representing his former club at this international event.
“Gabriel Jesus is not coming,” Pereira told ESPN.
“We got in touch with Arsenal, and they said, ‘Leila, there are no conditions whatsoever.
“We are not going to negotiate the player.’
“The subject is closed.”
Jesus made the switch from Premier League champions Manchester City to Arsenal in the summer of 2022, arriving as the club’s first-choice striker.
However, injuries have hindered his performance over the past two seasons, and the impressive form of Kai Havertz at the forefront of Arsenal’s attack has led to Jesus being relegated to the bench.
Mikel Arteta recently revealed that a pre-season injury disrupted Jesus’s preparations for the current campaign, but he emphasised that the 27-year-old will need to compete for his place in the starting XI.
“He put again a lot of work into it to come back and now he needs to get the rhythm,” the Arsenal boss said earlier this month.
“Now he needs to earn the right to play more.”
The Champions League has provided Gabriel Jesus with opportunities for playing time this season.
Mikel Arteta named the Brazilian for two of Arsenal’s first three European matches, leading the team to a draw against Atalanta on matchday one and a tense 1-0 victory over Shakhtar Donetsk this month.
However, Jesus has struggled to find the back of the net in either fixture, extending his goal drought. Arsenal’s number nine hasn’t scored in any competition since January, going 24 games and nearly nine months without a goal.
In contrast, Kai Havertz has scored 15 goals for the Gunners during the same period.
Read more: Ruben Amorim set to be named Manchester United boss after November international break
Kostas Tsimikas shares thoughts on future of Liverpool trio – “We will miss them a lot”
