Arsenal star Gabriel Jesus has revealed the Gunners’ exceptional form this season is down to strong bonding and camaraderie within the dressing room, and that he relishes competition for place from Eddie Nketiah and Leandro Trossard.
The 25-year-old striker returned to action last weekend and also came off the bench in Sunday’s 4-1 victory over Crystal Palace as Mikel Arteta’s men put up another strong performance to extend their advantage to eight points at the top of the Premier League ahead of the international break.
Gabriel Martinelli broke the deadlock early on, followed by a brace from Bukayo Saka and a goal from Granit Xhaka.
This season, Arsenal’s front line has been unstoppable, with defences unable to keep up.
Gabriel Jesus’ long-term injury during the World Cup could have damaged their season, but thankfully, Eddie Nketiah stepped up in his place, before Leandro Trossard joined in January.
His £27 million fee is looking more and more like a steal with every performance he puts in.
While the Belgian forward is keeping Jesus out of the starting lineup at the moment, Jesus has embraced competition from the former Brighton & Hove Albion man, and insists it’s a team game.
He told reporters: “The team are doing so good.
“I think no one here is like the main man, everyone’s together. When I was getting fit we showed Eddie can go there and help us, and he did it. Trossard came and did it as well, so everyone’s together. It’s like this. To be champions of this big, big competition, you have to win it with not only 11 players.
“I believe when you have a good relationship with the team-mates, everything on the pitch works well. That’s why we are top of the league, we are playing good football, we understand each other. So yeah, it’s very good to be a family.”
Jesus has admitted it was difficult watching from the sidelines when injured, and unable to influence the games on the pitch, but he stayed close to the squad so he could make a good impression in the dressing room, and keep the players on their toes.
He said: “It’s not easy to be out for like months, it’s not easy. I prefer to be on the pitch, helping and running and playing and helping my team-mates, [compared to] outside. Outside you suffer a lot. So I think I prefer to be on the pitch.”
With Trossard in fine form, there’s no need for Arteta to rush the 25-year-old back into the side, and preserve him ahead of the intense title run-in post World Cup.
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