He has changed a lot of things over the summer – Arteta feels Jesus has ‘spark’ after tough season

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta believes Gabriel Jesus has changed a lot of things over the summer after a tough last season. The Brazilian could only score four goals and provided five assists in 27 appearances in the Premier League 2023-24 season. Jesus also lost his place in the team to Kai Havertz and had injury woes throughout the season.

However, the 27-year-old scored for the Gunners against arch-rivals Manchester United after Erik Ten Hag’s team was put in front by Rasmus Højlund in the 10th minute. Arsenal won by 2-1 after substitute Gabriel Martinelli scored in the 81st minute in a pre-season friendly at Los Angeles.

Arteta said of Jesus: “He looks really good. He looks really sharp. He has changed a lot of things over the summer.

“He has come in top condition again. And when you have that baseline, other things can be built but without that foundation you don’t have a player. He needs to be in that condition to get the best out of him. He has realised that. And I’m really happy with what he’s shown today again.

“[What has he done?] That is a question for him. But I know that. It is a fact and you can see. The way he looks, his rhythm, his sharpness, the way he is moving. And you can see in his eyes as well that there is again some spark there because he has got now a point to prove and that is good.”

Arsenal were targeting Benjamin Sesko but he opted to sign a new contract to stay at RB Leipzig and thus the Gunners are looking for a new forward, according to reports.

Asked if Jesus could use that speculation as motivation, Arteta said: “I think that motivation has to come within himself, with his self demands and how much better he is able to make the team.

“He has shown it. He transformed the energy and the belief of that team and he has got it there. If he is waiting for something external to motivate him, I think it is going to be for a really short period. If it something internally that is happening, that is going to last long and it is going to be consistent. Hopefully that is the case.”

Arsenal will next take on Liverpool on Wednesday.