Gabriel Jesus enjoyed a stellar Saturday afternoon, netting a brace during Arsenal 's 4-1 victory over Leeds United.
That win restored the Gunners' eight-point cushion at the top of the Premier League table after Manchester City had closed the gap to five points earlier in the day by beating Liverpool 4-1. Jesus broke the deadlock at the Emirates Stadium, converting a penalty just before half-time and the Brazilian international doubled his tally after the break with a close-range finish.
However, he revealed that Mikel Arteta's decision to take him off in the 60th minute was a frustrating one, although he also admitted that he understood his coach's decision. Speaking to the club's media, the 25-year-old said: “I love challenges. Obviously with an injury and when there’s surgery involved, it’s not easy but if God gives me this challenge, it’s because I can survive and come back stronger.
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"I remember day one of rehab, working hard and thinking about the way to come back. If I don’t work hard, I’ll come back soft.
"Obviously, every player wants to play the full 90 minutes, I think I’m ready to play more minutes. However, when the ref said to me I was going off, I was a little bit disappointed because I want to play, but of course I respect the manager and the other players as well.
"So, it was 60 minutes, but I enjoyed it a lot.” It was Jesus' first league start since November, having missed almost four months of action through a knee injury he picked up during the World Cup.
The Brazilian international will be hoping to continue his fine form next weekend when Arsenal travel to Anfield to take on Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool on Sunday afternoon.
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