Jesus: Page 48 - The Arsenal discussion community: One More in the Tolly

Jesus

daredevil

And it's the case for everyone else too, seeing as the posts are being made post-match. It's not like we're having a random mid-week discussion. Furthermore, Jesus hasn't started a league game in 7 largely due to injury, so you can't possibly be referring to his broader form, either.

He was one of the better players on the pitch today, had two shots which was more than 5 odd attackers combined, had more touches in the oppositions box than 5 odd players combined. He had one moment where he dilly dallied, but aside from that had 3 opportunities where he was unfortunate not to score.

Coombs

daredevil He had one moment where he dilly dallied, but aside from that had 3 opportunities where he was unfortunate not to score.

Sounds like Gabby Jesus alright 👍🏼

RocktheCasbah

Genuinely curious, do people think the Gabby J we had at the start of last season is not good enough for us? I would say he absolutely is. It's just that we haven't seen that version of him in over a year now. Obviously, that's a problem in itself.

I think criticism of him today is a little overblown, he worked his nuts off on his first PL start in ages and came closest to scoring for us, you might as well criticise Odegaard for the times he gave the ball away or didn't find the right pass.

JazzG

RocktheCasbah Exactly, he's been out for a while as well, so defo not fully up to speed and playing on the left wing so think he did alright.

I don't think he's ever played on the left wing for us has he?

lorddulaarsenal

On top of his game he’s definitely good enough for us. Even when not he’s a real asset.

RocktheCasbah

JazzG I think he did in the home game against Spurs, perhaps?

JazzG

RocktheCasbah You're right, completely forgot about that!

Claudius

Jesus was phenomenal in both directions yesterday, and is definitely still starting quality. On offense, his ability to get into spaces, evade his man, create his own shots is a combination alternatives aren’t able to do. Chart below shows he was far and away most active offensively.

On defense, he had to support Kiwior who was clearly being targeted in open play. But he also tucked in when we’re facing up to support of our mids in keeping KDB out. And then would still have all that energy for offense. These qualities will make him an Arteta automatic when healthy

FEBravo

He must start next week in Munich

Claudius

This is actually a really low number. Need to be above 10%

Meatwad

gave city money to give us the illusion of getting better. although sarcasm aside and to be fair we probably just signed them to get top 4 and the rest of the team improved more than anyone was expecting (especially saliba coming into the team) and we became something those two were never meant to be: starters on a title challenger.

Claudius

Meatwad I mean this lacks nuance. Before this guy was injured, he was arguably performing as the best player in the league. Please search Jesus and articles from September to November 2022. It’s everything post that World Cup injury that has been diabolical.

I’m glad he’s doing that surgery this summer, but we need to take stock this summer of players who are rehabilitating or injured and make some decisions - Jesus, ESR, Timber, Vieira, Partey, Tomi, etc - especially when it impacts depth in specific parts of the field.

Meatwad

Claudius
at no point in his career at city or arsenal has jesus ever been performing as the best player in the league. his own mother wouldn't say that. in brazil he's known as a poor excuse for a striker. at city he was that. at arsenal he is that.

awooga83

Yeah agree with that, there is no way he's ever been considered performing best in the league.His finishing has always been awful that's nothing new this is who he is there is no point pretending he's something else. He's always worked hard been good off the wing but not good in the middle.

Claudius

Quickly searched a balanced article from that period. One that highlights his lack of scoring but overall contribution to the team.
https://www.skysports.com/amp/football/news/11670/12743776/gabriel-jesus-former-man-city-striker-has-not-scored-in-10-games-but-he-has-transformed-arsenals-attack

SimplyThePest

Claudius He's a good player. He was instrumental in saving our arses a week ago against Bayern. Arteta and co. may need to rethink how best to use this guy. Play him as the left '8' or something. See what he can do from there with his control, dribbling, etc.

Meatwad

so the best you could find is "well he's a striker who can't score, but he brings so much to the team"? that's how they use to refer to midtable strugglers like bolton's kevin davies. you do that with zinny as well, "he's not a good defender, but he brings so much to the attack." really dude?

Clrnc

Meatwad Kevin Davies... you are making me laugh with all your analogies. Where did you find that name for the past from? 😆

Burnwinter

Every team's got players who are great footballers but poor finishers.

Our current problem is we've only got Saka and maybe Øde on his day to be both starters, and reliable finishers.

Jesus's all round game is very helpful but it's not enough in that context to say we can't upgrade him.

awooga83

Burnwinter exactly this point, I wrote in the expectations thread about drawing a few too many blank match days and how because are forwards were wasteful needed more chances but I think it's more that the players we have are not the right level. Havertz, Jesus, Martinelli even Ode as you say from a consistent goal scoring perspective are not able to carry the goal scoring load you need for a title. It's as you say those matches where things haven't quite worked and you might not get the amount of chances you would like but you still generate a few we don't have those difference makers. They add other facets to the team but we really need to boost the goal scoring and that might mean losing some of that to allow for it

The challenge is that Arteta's philosophy has been very defence focused and people doing everything in our own area of the pitch to the detriment of that side of the game and in the slim margins at the top that it's proving a problem. Is he willing to alter his philosophy and learn that it's not working so he might have to alter that balance which he's been so committed to?

Don Pacifico

awooga83 The challenge is that Arteta's philosophy has been very defence focused and people doing everything in our own area of the pitch to the detriment of that side of the game and in the slim margins at the top that it's proving a problem.

Agree with your post except this bit. I think it's less about being defensively minded and more about being system-oriented. Those 'difference-makers' you refer to are normally a little bit more selfish, have a bit more ego (etc.) and that's very much at odds with Arteta's coaching philosophy.

But I agree that we do need one of those types for matches where we can't score because fundamentally, the system doesn't work if no one can finish.

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