Opinion: Gabriel Jesus cannot be written off at Arsenal

25/12/2025 21:04:00 ceshi

After almost a year battling a serious injury, Gabriel Jesus stands at a critical juncture in his Arsenal career. The facts show that prematurely writing off Jesus has never been a smart choice.

1. Gabriel Jesus didn’t come back with instant fireworks, but his return caught people’s attention. After 11 months sidelined due to an ACL injury, the 28-year-old striker knows his time is running short. His substitute appearances against Club Brugge, Wolves, and Everton were brief but enough to remind everyone that Arsenal has a very different kind of forward.

Jesus doesn’t have to score to prove his worth. In just 62 minutes scattered across matches, he touched the ball more than Viktor Gyokeres, who played over three times as many minutes. This figure clearly illustrates Jesus’s style: always present between the lines, actively linking play, stretching the opposing defense, and creating tactical disorder. This is what Arsenal lacked when their attack became rigid.

More importantly, Jesus’s comeback carries a warrior’s spirit. After a long time forced to watch from the sidelines, he plays with a very clear hunger. Arteta has seen this both in training and matches. For a team seeking to balance efficiency and emotion, Jesus is not just a squad option but a timely morale booster.

2. The comparison between Gabriel Jesus and Viktor Gyokeres is unavoidable, but it also highlights the core difference between these two types of strikers. Gyokeres stands for directness, power, and the “finisher” role inside the penalty area. In contrast, Jesus represents versatility, creativity, and playmaking ability, which Arteta once described as “changing the whole world of Arsenal.”

Gabriel Jesus remains an important player at Arsenal

When Arsenal struggles against low defensive blocks, Jesus’s value becomes clearer than ever. He doesn’t wait passively for the ball but moves sideways, drops deep, plays one-touch passes, and creates space for his teammates. Martinelli, Saka, and Odegaard all perform better with a striker willing to sacrifice position to stretch the defense.

Arteta knows Jesus isn’t the type to score 25 goals a season. But he also knows Arsenal played their best football when Jesus was the central connecting figure. With Kai Havertz injured and Gyokeres not yet consistent, giving Jesus a starting spot is the most logical tactical decision.

At his best, Jesus brings unpredictability that makes opponents hesitate. And for a coach like Arteta who values structure but also needs creativity, that is an asset that cannot be overlooked.

Gabriel Jesus’s return is like a new signing for Arsenal

3. Jesus isn’t just playing for Arsenal; he’s also playing for his own future. After this season, he has only one year left on his contract, and leaving Emirates is a real possibility. But in what role will Jesus leave? As a chronically injured player or a top-level striker who has rediscovered himself? Everything depends on the next few months.

The World Cup is also a major motivation. Jesus has been absent from Brazil’s national team since 2023, but the door has never closed. With Brazil lacking a convincing number 9, a high-performing Jesus could surpass Richarlison or Matheus Cunha. For him, every Arsenal match now is like a résumé.

More importantly, Jesus does not hide his desire to stay and make history with Arsenal. In a recent open letter, he stated that he hasn’t completed his mission at the club and that he came for trophies. This is not empty talk but a message from a player who knows his own worth.

For Arsenal, ruling out Gabriel Jesus now would not only waste his expertise but also lose a key player who could change the course of the season.

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