Gabriel Jesus completed a surprise £45million transfer to Arsenal in the summer, leaving reigning Premier League champions Manchester City. The Brazilian striker reunited with Mikel Arteta at the Emirates Stadium following the arrival of Erling Haaland and Julian Alvarez at the Etihad Stadium.
Jesus' goal-scoring form dropped off ahead of the World Cup break but he has still enjoyed a strong first half of the season, scoring five goals and providing a further seven assists for the Gunners. The 25-year-old is now recovering from a knee injury which he suffered whilst playing for Brazil at the World Cup in Qatar and is likely to return in February next year.
Jesus won four Premier League titles, the FA Cup and three Carabao Cups during his five-year spell with City before making the move to Arsenal. The Brazilian striker has been influential in helping the Gunners challenge his former side at the top of the table this season and Arsenal may need to dip into the transfer market to find a short-term solution during his absence.
READ MORE: Arsenal handed incentive to activate Bukayo Saka contract clause and ruin Man City transfer plan
Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville has revealed that City let Jesus and Raheem Sterling leave this summer to join Arsenal and Chelsea as the club did not want to "block" Julian Alvarez's path. Speaking on the Sky Sports World Cup Podcast, Neville said: “I was told a year ago when City let Jesus and Sterling go – because I was quite surprised that City let both go at the same time – that this kid [Alvarez] was the reason.
"Someone said that to me, that is quite close to City, that he was the reason and they didn’t want to block his path.”
Pep Guardiola has made it clear that he is willing to freshen up his squad on a regular basis since he arrived at the Etihad Stadium back in 2016. The arrival of talented forwards Haaland and Alvarez spelt the end of Jesus and Sterling's time with City, as both players left to join Premier League rivals and become key men for their new teams.
Their departures have had a minimal impact on City with Haaland leading the goalscoring charts in the Premier League. Alvarez continues to shine as he aims to achieve World Cup glory with Argentina on Sunday after an impressive semi-final performance against Mexico.
Arsenal have benefitted from Jesus' arrival massively with the Brazilian helping Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli improve their output for the Gunners. Mikel Arteta will hope to have his star striker fully fit as soon as possible as the north London outfit aim to qualify for next season's Champions League either through finishing in the top four or winning the Europa League.
READ NEXT:
Mikel Arteta has 3 options to replace William Saliba as Arsenal prepare for West Ham absences
Gabriel Martinelli and Arsenal stars can be recalled vs Juventus as Bukayo Saka dilemma emerges
The 23 minutes that proved to Edu that Mykhaylo Mudryk can be Arsenal's perfect January signing
European elite chase Takehiro Tomiyasu to vindicate Mikel Arteta's Arsenal tactical foresight
Arsenal news and transfers LIVE: Latest news, rumours and gossip from the Emirates Stadium
