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Gabriel Jesus will answer the key question of Mikel Arteta before Arsenal completes the transfer

Arsenal are getting closer to a summer move for Gabriel Jesus, but questions about the best role of the Manchester City striker continue to linger before the change of big money

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With Arsenal approaching Gabriel Jesus, the Brazilian is closer to settling the debate for his best position.

When he signed with Manchester City from Palmeiras in 2017, there was little obvious debate. City signed a striker – also prolific, with a season of 20 goals under his belt at just 19 years old.

There were many times when the dispute also seemed settled. Gabriel Jesus may not have been Pep Guardiola’s first choice – especially when Sergio Aguero was in his best form – but he was undoubtedly number nine.

Last season, however, cast some doubt. And now, as he prepares to trade Etihad for the Emirates Stadium in a £ 45m deal, the 25-year-old will settle matters without a shadow of a doubt.

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While Gabriel Jesus was forced to move in previous seasons, this became a more specific role for him at the beginning of the 2021-22 campaign. At the time, he was making the right sounds, demonstrating his commitment to the cause, but now he doesn’t need politeness.

“It may have looked different to you, but not to me, because I have been playing as a winger in Brazil for the national team for the last two years,” he said in August 2021. “For me, playing on the right wing is now more normal. I can help my team with back runs, I can help defenders, that’s all. ”

However, this has not always been the case. He has had some difficult moments as a more orthodox striker internationally – in particular, he missed the 2018 World Cup – and his distance has allowed him to take stock and enjoy some time off the line of fire while playing. back in shape. However, he cannot do this forever and now is the time to decide what to do will be apart from what he has been .

While the frontman may have felt comfortable moving widely to accommodate more established international players or senior figures such as Aguero, forced to move to the wing while Ferran Torres took center position at City, it may be harder to take. . It is now up to him to act decisively to ensure that there is no recurrence in north London.

Should Gabriel Jesus be Arsenal’s starting striker next season? Have your say in the comments section

Gabriel Jesus can establish himself as an initial central striker at Arsenal (

Image:

Visionhaus / Getty Images)

In recent seasons, Arsenal have proved to use as Pierre-Emerick Obameyang and Alexander Lacazette in broad roles, although the pair were nominally signed as goal scorers. While the former had experience with threats from wide starting places, he often felt more like a square peg in a round hole when it came to Lacazette.

Undoubtedly, there will be questions about the role of Eddie Nketia, as the graduate of the academy will put a pen for a long-term deal and take the old T-shirt number 14 of Obamayang. Nketia is also a rather good striker, so it is difficult to see that he is so effective from a starting position from a distance.

However, Arsenal will have more matches during this term due to their qualification in the Europa League, and the sight of an established central striker does not mean that they will not use Gabriel Jesus in the same role.

Moreover, it is not as if Arteta does not know what she is getting. He worked with the former Palmeiras man when he was part of Guardiola’s coaching staff, and he will have seen a lot of what Gabriel Jesus can do.

At 25, Gabriel Jesus has more top-level experience than a number of other players his age. However, he is no longer just a prospect and the money that Arsenal is preparing to spend speaks for itself.

Mikel Arteta needs to be sure which player he will accept in north London before the deal crosses the line. Gabriel Jesus certainly knows this himself, and now is the time to make it as clear as possible.

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