The wait for Gabriel Jesus to become an Arsenal player was a long one, but the length of time it took him to make an impact was startlingly short.
Gabriel Jesus said: “Just normal things. Go do this, do that, the movements that you have done already in the training sessions. Do your job like this and then enjoy with the lads.”
Perhaps the reason for this more relaxed approach is because of how well, Arteta knows his new signing. Having worked with Jesus at Manchester City during his time as an assistant coach to Pep Guardiola, there is no need to waste any time feeling the Brazilian out.
Gabriel Jesus said: “Well, in the beginning when we started to talk about the transfer it was with Edu and I knew already then that Mikel wanted me to come to join the club. They showed me the project and everything about the club. Then they showed me some stuff about my statistics and I was so surprised. They want to me to come, to help, to improve as a player so yeah, that’s why I’m here. I’ve worked with [Arteta] at City so I know him a bit. He helped me a lot to improve my finishing after training sessions, that’s what I know about him. Then we talked a little bit before I joined and he explained to me the project and everything. That’s why. In life you always want to do everything with a reason, that’s why I came to try to help and to learn and to win with the team.”
Jesus though bucks that trend. The Brazilian is a streetwise centre forward as ready to engage in the ugly side of the game as he is the beautiful one. It only took a few minutes of his second Arsenal game against Everton in Baltimore to evidence this as he fought off a scrap with former teammate Yerry Mina.
Gabriel Jesus said: “You know what I’ve played with Mina before in Palmeiras and we were so close together, and after I don’t know why but he started to touch me, to pinch me on my chest and then talking s**t. I don’t know why or for what reason he did this. At the end I’m not a kid anymore and I went straight to him as well. After we won the game, and that’s all that matters. Sometimes the defenders kick you so much and your reaction is to kick as well. Always in my life I try to be calm, concentrate on the game, be focused on my game, because anything can happen. At the end it’s sometimes something I have to do as well.”
For Jesus though this side of his personality comes naturally. Rather than actively trying to force his leadership style on to the Gunners young squad, he admits that he prefers to lead by example. However, should any of them want to come to him to speak about any advice, then the Brazilian’s door is always open.
Gabriel Jesus said: “I’m not like this where because I’ve lived something that the youngers haven’t lived yet, I want to talk. I just show in the training session by working hard and that’s it. If they want to come to talk with me to show me something that I didn’t see, they can come and talk, and if I can I do as well.”
Jesus is set to be joined by fellow former Manchester City star Olenksandr Zinchenko and it does seem clear that Arteta is trying to follow the example that his former mentor Pep Guardiola has set in the North East.
