It has been one year to the day that Arsenal signed Gabriel Jesus from Manchester City. Another example of the club securing one of the primary targets and certainly the most high profile of the 2022 summer.
Declan Rice appears to be moving in a similar direction one year later and certainly, sporting director Edu Gaspar is receiving due praise for successive summer successes. However, the Brazilian endured a rollercoaster of a first campaign whilst at Arsenal.
Despite becoming an immediate hit, scoring within seconds of his first appearance in a friendly in Germany against Nurnberg, his exploits in the league were restricted due to a serious knee injury. He suffered the issue at the World Cup and he showcased his miraculously speedy return from surgery in a multi-part documentary on the Arsenal YouTube channel.
He ended the season with 11 goals in 26 league appearances, yet after five in the first nine game weeks, there was perhaps a hope he’d score more. He failed to score in the six Premier League matches prior to the World Cup’s distraction from domestic football.
Throughout his time at the club so far, the criticisms of a lack of clinical finishing have certainly come to the front of people’s minds. These are represented in the metrics too.
FBRef recorded a non-penalty xG per 90 of 0.56 however he record just 0.39 non-penalty goals per 90 across the last year. His npxG sits in the 91st percentile of strikers in the top five leagues, but his goals per 90 are in the 61st.
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There is without a doubt a need for him to improve in front of goal and after just one season with the club, there’s an argument that the second campaign will see a natural improvement. He gets into the right positions but just needs that ruthless touch.
What he has brought however is a serious boost to the collaboration in the front line. He finished the year in the 94th percentile for assists per 90 amongst strikers in the top five leagues, and the 92nd percentile for shot-creating actions per 90.
Mikel Arteta has a desire for his striker to become a much more creative force and he’s certainly got that with Jesus. The hope will be with the addition of Kai Havertz to the attacking options that even more goal-scoring opportunities can be created.
However, should he continue to struggle with his conversion rate, the question will linger whether a move in a future transfer window the upgrade on the number nine position is the step needed to take Arsenal to another level. Or, should Folarin Balogun leave this summer, whether the USMNT forward should have been given more of a chance instead?
