Gabriel Jesus’ move to Arsenal is all but confirmed, as he was recently pictured greeting club director Edu Gaspar ahead of his medical earlier this week.
Manchester City are set to earn an £18 million profit through the sale of the Brazilian international, with the Gunners set to pay an initial £45 million fee to secure his signature.
With Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang joining Barcelona in January, and Alexander Lacazette returning to Lyon this summer, the 25-year old has been brought in as the North Londoners’ new first-choice striker.
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Alongside Eddie Nketiah, who recently signed a long-term contract with his boyhood club, the Englishman and the Brazilian make up the side’s new look strike force for next season.
As Julian Alvarez and Erling Haaland have been signed as Manchester City’s hitmen up front for the foreseeable future, Gabriel Jesus had no option but to look for pastures new.
With the former Palmeiras forward not being a guaranteed selection for his national team, reuniting with Mikel Arteta at Arsenal now gives the player the chance to cement his place in the Brazil squad that will jet off for the Qatar World Cup in November.
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After being asked by reporter Charlie Woollard of Hayters TV about whether he was excited to start a new chapter in the English capital, the versatile frontman briefly summed up his feelings.
“I am so excited”, he succinctly replied.
Constantly fighting for his place at the Etihad Stadium after five seasons, it comes as no surprise to see Gabriel Jesus now looking forward to being the centrepiece of Arsenal’s exciting project.
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At the start of his Manchester City career, it seemed as if the São Paulo-born number nine had usurped Sergio Agüero as the side’s go-to striker under Pep Guardiola.
However, the Argentine legend ultimately fought his way back into the Catalan boss' good books, as the energetic forward was reduced to playing second fiddle ever since.
Despite the club’s all-time top goalscorer being injured for a majority of the 2020/21 campaign, Pep Guardiola prioritised a false-nine system, which meant the Copa America champion was on the periphery of things.
Even after Sergio Agüero’s departure and the Sky Blues’ inability to sign Tottenham's Harry Kane last summer, it was widely reported that Gabriel Jesus had requested to play as a winger instead of jumping at the chance to start up front.
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Impressing at different stages of last season in both roles, the player largely struggled to cement his place in the side.
However, the competition for places at Manchester City in comparison to Arsenal is incomparable.
Being the side’s marquee signing, Gabriel Jesus is also set to be their trusted number throughout the course of the 2022/23 season.
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With the chance of proving the Sky Blues wrong for letting him go in the first place, the Brazilian international must be buzzing for the upcoming term to kick into gear.
Aside from Gabriel Jesus, the likes of Raheem Sterling, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Nathan Ake have also been linked with exits this summer to the likes of Chelsea, Everton, and Newcastle respectively.
Topics: Gabriel Jesus, Arsenal, Premier League, Manchester City, Manchester City Transfer News & Rumours, Football, Brazil