Gabriel Jesus has told Arsenal to dare to dream of winning the Champions League after he inspired them to victory here in Spain last night.
The Brazilian striker set up Gabriel Martinelli’s opener with a brilliant assist and then scored what turned out to be a sublime winner as Arsenal beat Sevilla 2-1.
Jesus was forced off late on after feeling his hamstring and is set for a scan, but the striker has played down fears he has suffered a serious injury and said he is “pretty sure it will be nothing”.
Arsenal badly needed a result after their defeat at Lens last time out. Victory saw the Gunners take control of Group B and Jesus believes they can go all the way in the Champions League this season.
“I haven’t won it yet, so I am looking for this, for this beautiful trophy,” said Jesus, who was at Manchester City when they were beaten in the 2021 final by Chelsea.
“Obviously it is not easy, but I think we have to believe. If we don’t believe, we cannot be here.
“It’s a competition I love, like the Premier League. All the competitions I love, because I just love to play football. But I don’t know, since day one in the Champions League, my debut, I scored goals.
“The way the team have come here to a tough stadium, against tough opponents, the way we fight, the way we play with the ball, having courage to play, that’s unbelievable. It’s amazing. It isn’t easy to come here and play the way we did with the courage to play on the big stage. We just have to keep this energy for the next game.”
Jesus starred and Mikel Arteta will hope the 26-year-old’s injury is not serious. He went down feeling his hamstring and signalled to the bench to come off. He left the stadium last night without the need for crutches, an ice pack or any strapping.
Arsenal play Sheffield United at Emirates Stadium on Saturday, the first of seven matches in a busy month ahead for the Gunners. “I felt something. Let’s see. I did some tests with the physio,” Jesus said last night. “It looks not that big [an issue], but let’s see.
“I will have a scan, maybe tomorrow or the day after. Let’s see how it is, but I am pretty sure it will be nothing.
“It is hard [getting injured] when you are in a good moment, like I was last season. In the World Cup I was unlucky and I got injured. I am the type of player who needs power. I lost a little bit of that and then in the pre-season I got injured again, so I had to do another surgery quick. It was a difficult time and to get fit again is not easy.”
After a drab opening 45 minutes, Jesus’ assist for Martinelli on the stroke of half-time sparked this game into life. He received the ball near the halfway line, spun two defenders with a Cruyff turn and played in Martinelli, who rounded Sevilla goalkeeper Orjan Nyland to put Arsenal ahead.
“That’s football, sometimes you have to do some magic moments,” said Jesus. “All the players we have can do it. Today it was me. I am happy, but it happens with the help of the team. We play together as a team.”
