MIKEL ARTETA SENDS 5-WORD MESSAGE TO NEWCASTLE UNITED OVER POTENTIAL SWAP DEAL FOR ALEXANDER ISAK AND GABRIEL JESUS
Newcastle United were reportedly looking at the Arsenal marksman as a potential replacement for Alexander Isak.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has sent a crystal clear message to any rivals weighing up a potential January swoop for striker Gabriel Jesus as the Brazil international struggles for game time at the Emirates Stadium this season.
The 27-year-old has scored just one goal in his past 31 appearances for Arsenal and has fallen out of favour with Kai Havertz the first choice to lead the line. Jesus has been afforded just 244 minutes in the top flight this season but Arteta is adamant that the former Manchester City man is still part of his plans.
Arsenal forked out £45 million to bring Jesus to London from the Etihad Stadium in 2022 and the player has netted 20 goals and grabbed 16 assists in that time. At moments, the striker has been prolific, but is enduring a rockier run of form currently.
Last month it emerged that Newcastle United were looking at a deal to bring the player to St James’ Park in a bid to help Eddie Howe find the consistency that has eluded his side so far this term. Fichajes claimed that the Magpies viewed Jesus as a potential replacement for Alexander Isak, should the Tyneside outfit choose to cash in on the Swede.
This week, Arteta was asked about the future of Jesus and emphatically shut down any talk of a January exit. When asked about the rumours, the Spaniard said: “No, no sense.”
Jesus still has two-and-a-half years left on his contract and any sale would leave Arsenal even shorter in a position that already lacks depth. That Fichajes report had claimed that a £55 million bid for Jesus could tempt Arsenal to sell.
Gabriel Jesus on Arsenal playing time
The striker has been open about his frustration at a lack of playing time this season. Speaking in November, he said: “Well, I believe that not only me, but any player, all players, want to have more minutes. I’m obviously never going to cause anything in the club, I’m going to try to demonstrate on a daily basis, in training, and when I get into the games, have my chance, and do my thing and trust that things will happen.
“I’ve always made it very clear that I want to improve, that I want to try to do my best and help Arsenal. Obviously, my moment is not the best, it’s not the moment I wanted, that I would like, but as I said, I’m working on my own, trying to do my best, and get more minutes to play, but that’s a consequence of my training, it’s a consequence of the way I get in and leave the decision to the coach.”
