Having never won the Golden Boot before during his Man City days, Arsenal supporters are hoping new signing Gabriel Jesus can hit new levels whilst donning the red and white jersey.
Jesus, 25, has made a flying start to life at his second Premier League club with three goals netted already in his first three outings for Mikel Arteta's side in pre-season. Surprisingly, he didn't find the net in the latest encounter against Orlando City but he did play a bit part for Eddie Nketiah's sole goal. His versatility and adaptability in front of goal to not just be limited to scoring goals himself really makes him a team player within Arteta's system- something the Spaniard commented on when asked about the fluidity of his new recruits and how that itself can only be seen as a benefit ahead of 2022/23.
"That's one of the things, and where we can adapt structures, formations and rotations, we think this squad and playing with the same players in a different way to be more unpredictable is obviously that - it's important and that's why we have recruited those players," Arteta side. Jesus usually can hit double digits in the Premier League every season as shown throughout his prolonged Man City tenure but his status in never being the first-choice option has meant that the Brazilian has never really entered the Golden Boot conversation over the years.
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Instead, the likes of Harry Kane, Mohamed Salah and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang amongst other forwards have competed it out in recent seasons to earn that rare award. Now add Man City's new recruit, Erling Haaland, into the equation at the 2022/23 Golden Boot talk has certainly got a lot more interesting.
Kane and Salah who have a combined six awards between themselves will now certainly fear the Norwegian talismanic figure who registered crazy numbers in the Bundesliga but are there any other forwards they should be fearing? Could Jesus himself, who has always been perceived by rival fans as being a good backup option enter the conversation?
Well, former Man United midfielder Mikael Silvestre reckons Arsenal's new number 9 is a cut below his Spurs and Man City counterparts and as a result, will not be in the thick of it when it comes to who will come out on top in this category in the 2022/23 season.
“It’s a good addition, but I still don’t see him as a top goal-scorer or a finisher," he told LordPing. "He’s got so much to his game but right now he’ll just have to try and replace Aubameyang or Lacazette.
“It’s going to take him time to become that number nine because at City, they had Aguero and he didn’t establish himself when he left as the main number nine.”
Arsenal fans, do you agree with Mikaël Silvestre? Will Gabriel Jesus just fall short of being a real contender for the Golden Boot award in 2022/23? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below!
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