Mikel Arteta responds to claims that Arsenal will listen to offers for Gabriel Jesus
The Brazilian has lost his place at the head of Arsenal’s attack (Picture: Getty)
Mikel Arteta has strongly refuted claims that Arsenal are open to offers for Gabriel Jesus in the summer window and has no intention of letting him leave.
The Brazil international is in his second season at the Emirates following a £45million move from Manchester City in July 2022 but his campaign has been disrupted once again by injuries.
Jesus has been limited to just 24 appearances in the Premier League while he has only netted four goals – less than seven other players in the squad, and as many as defender Ben White.
He has lost his place at the head of the attack to Kai Havertz recently, while the Gunners are known to be in the market for a new striker.
Jesus’ reduced role has seem him linked with a move away in the summer, with his future at the club reportedly ‘not guaranteed’ and Arsenal willing to listen to any offers that might come their way.
But Arteta has now dismissed the sudden speculation that has emerged over Jesus’ future, shooting down the reports, and insists selling the 27-year-old is not on the agenda.
Asked at his pre-match press conference on Friday if the reports about the club being open to selling Jesus are accurate, Arteta shook his head and replied firmly: ‘I don’t know where this is coming from.’
Probed further on whether he has any intention of letting Jesus leave this summer, Arteta said: ‘No. no.’
Arteta is adamant he does not want to sell Jesus (Picture: Getty)
For his part, Jesus is thought to be happy and settled in north London and does not want to leave Arsenal, while he is confident a full pre-season in the summer will lead to a return to form.
Arteta, though, is looking to bolster his squad with the signing of new, more reliable goalscorer and the Gunners have been linked with the likes of Brentford’s Ivan Toney and Sporting’s Viktor Gyokeres.
Asked last month about Arsenal’s pursuit of a new striker, Jesus said: ‘They already know if they want to so maybe this question is not for me.
‘My job is to try to work, train hard, improve what I have to improve and in the games try to help Arsenal win and then after obviously win trophies.
‘The speculation will always be there, not only here but every club. People want to decide who the club want to sign. This is happening not just at Arsenal but at a lot of clubs.’
Arsenal’s leading scorer this season is Bukayo Saka with 15 goals, closely followed by Havertz on 12 and Leandro Trossard on 10 – contributions that dwarf those of Jesus and Eddie Nketiah, who has also been linked with a summer exit.
The Gunners are next in action against Bournemouth in Saturday’s lunchtime kick-off at the Emirates and can look to create a four-point gap to Manchester City before Pep Guardiola’s side face Wolves later in the day.
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