Arsenal’s key player, Gabriel Jesus, has made a comeback and is once again scoring goals for the team. Jesus had suffered a knee injury during his World Cup stint with Brazil, causing him to miss 15 matches. However, he returned to the Emirates last month and has been in top form since then, having scored three goals in the last two games.
Jesus has regained his impressive form that ignited the title race for the league leaders, and his performance will be vital in securing a win against West Ham later today. Jesus made his comeback as a substitute in Arsenal’s victory over Fulham, and subsequently featured as a substitute against Crystal Palace before reclaiming his starting position against Leeds. He scored two goals in the match, including one from a penalty kick.
In the match against Liverpool, Jesus scored an excellent header, extending Arsenal’s lead, and appeared to have fully recovered from his time off the pitch. He also successfully completed all four of his take-ons, registered two shots on goal, and regained possession four times in the defensive third by the end of the match.
Jesus excels at generating chances even from difficult situations, making it one of his greatest strengths. During his absence, Arsenal felt the impact of his absence, especially in terms of link play, close-control dribbling, physical presence, and creativity. However, since his return, he has made four league appearances, winning 16 ground duels and drawing three fouls in the final third. He has also successfully completed nine out of 13 attempted take-ons during this period.
The front three of Arsenal allows their No. 9 to move around freely, collecting the ball from various positions and making attacking runs against the opposition defence.
Arsenal is set to travel a short distance to East London, where they will face West Ham in hopes of recovering from their previous draw against Liverpool. In the match, Jesus will need to perform at his best to break through the Irons’ strong defence, especially with Declan Rice providing additional defensive cover. Although West Ham is currently struggling in the relegation battle, they have remained resilient defensively, having conceded only 39 goals so far this season.
Arsenal has already emerged victorious in nine London derbies this season and is looking to extend the streak to ten. With Jesus back in form and performing at his best, the Gunners may very well accomplish their goal.
