It wasn’t that way back that some chinks in Arsenal’s armor began appearing. The Gunners struggled to search out targets and the loss to Manchester United felt like a turning level of their bid to win the Premier League.
Nevertheless, now we have simply had an excellent week, beating Leeds United 4-0, reaching the Carabao Cup ultimate and beating Sunderland 3-0.
They’ve completed all of it with out Bukayo Saka, the figurehead of Mikel Arteta’s regime. This could not have been attainable earlier than, however the depth of the Gunners’ squad is price noting. It is the very best within the UK and possibly the very best in Europe.
What made their win over the Black Cats on Saturday most spectacular was that they have been held off by Regis Le Bris’ males of their journey to the Stadium of Mild earlier within the season.
Right now, I had no worry. Arteta’s group handed the take a look at with flying colours.
Greatest plus for Arsenal after Sunderland
It is exhausting to speak about this sport with out mentioning an excellent cameo from Victor Gokeres. The Swede struggled to search out his kind throughout his debut on the Emirates Stadium and his efficiency in opposition to Chelsea a number of days in the past summed it up.
Gökeres was remoted. He recorded simply 10 touches and accomplished the lone go all night time. He was nameless. However 2026 has turn out to be his 12 months. He gained the membership’s participant of the month award for January, and it was well-deserved. He’s now actually beginning to come into his personal in Arsenal colours.
No participant has scored extra targets (six) than the previous Sporting man on this 12 months’s Premier League, however he in all probability saved his finest efficiency up to now in opposition to Sunderland at residence on Saturday.
The participant who arrived in the summertime didn’t begin a match, however he entered the sport at the beginning time and instantly started working. He held the ball preciously and decisively and transformed two probabilities to attain.
Though he has been a bit haphazard in entrance of aim at instances this season, his confidence is excessive and he appears to be like as ruthless as now we have ever seen in Arsenal’s Reds and Whites.
For each targets, he was in the correct place on the proper time, grabbing Kai Havertz’s go and slipping, however nonetheless discovering sufficient capturing energy to beat Robin Rufus. His second one was less complicated, working ahead alongside Gabriel Martinelli on the counter-attack and firing from shut vary.
Alongside the aforementioned Havertz, he appears to have shaped an excellent partnership. However that is definitely unhealthy information for Gabriel Jesus.
What Gokeres’ kind means for Jesus at Arsenal
Competitors for locations on this Arsenal squad has by no means been fiercer, with maybe the fiercest battle going down on the prime finish of the pitch.
It makes a distinction for the Gunners to have so many choices in that third of the sphere, contemplating they needed to depend on Mikel Merino for the second half of final season.
They presently have Gokeres, Jesus and Havertz competing for a spot within the group, however Jesus is maybe the one who has come out of the worst scenario.
To be honest, Jesus hasn’t been in unhealthy form since getting back from damage. When he performs, he appears way more concerned within the proceedings than Gokeres. For comparability, the Brazilian has recorded 48.7 touches per 90 minutes within the league this season. His offensive line colleagues are scoring simply 24.1.
The previous Manchester Metropolis man additionally scored twice contained in the San Siro. However in latest weeks, Gökeres and Havertz have been staking their case and look like the most suitable choice.
Since Jesus scored in opposition to Inter, Gokeres has scored 4 targets. Havertz additionally bagged the bag twice. It is not that Jesus was unhealthy per se, it is simply that the gamers in entrance of him are enjoying higher at this level.
Nevertheless, his failure to make an affect in opposition to Sunderland ought to set off alarm bells. He was caught offside thrice and hampered Arsenal’s attacking progress, however he solely had one shot on the right track and had an xG of simply 0.01. He additionally accomplished solely six passes.
Gabriel Jesus vs Sunderland | |
|---|---|
Play time (minutes) | 60 |
contact | 17 |
Contact the offensive field | 2 |
precise path | 6/9 (67%) |
A chance has arisen | 0 |
shot | 1 |
Anticipated targets (xG) | 0.01 |
Gained a floor duel | 0/1 |
gained an aerial battle | 0/2 |
To be sincere, the Brazilian’s play was actually ineffective and judging by the type of his team-mates, it will now be an actual shock if he was chosen forward of them for the remainder of the marketing campaign.
Sure, there are many video games forward, however Havertz’s all-round play as a centre-forward has been distinctive for a while now. Gökeres can also be always bettering and if he continues his relentless assault in entrance of aim, he will probably be exhausting to drop as Arsenal chase huge honours.
If he isn’t within the lead, it merely must be Havertz. He had restricted time to make an affect within the midweek cup sport in opposition to Chelsea final week, nevertheless it was devastating.
Ray Parler, in his prime, as soon as mentioned that Jesus performed like a membership legend. He is “a bit just like the Henry of outdated, drifting to the left very often,” Parler mentioned in 2022.
Nevertheless, he’s removed from replicating such a efficiency. He could also be a bit like Henry in that he can dance round defenders, however it will be stunning if he has a long-term future in north London. As one of many highest-paid gamers within the Premier League, he will definitely be straightforward to promote as soon as the summer time is over.
25 highest paid gamers within the Premier League (ranked)
Premier League gamers earn enormous quantities of cash from their performances.
