Arsenal’s Gabriel Jesus says he can empathise with Viktor Gyokeres after criticism of his team-mate’s scoring form this season and expects the Swede to prove just how good he can be.
Gyokeres joined Arsenal from Sporting CP last summer in a deal worth a €63.5million fixed fee (£55m, $75m) with a further €10m possible in potential add-ons. However, the Sweden international has struggled to adapt to life in England, scoring eight goals in 26 games.
Speaking before Arsenal’s Champions League group game in Milan against last season’s finalists Inter, Jesus defended his team-mate.
He said: “Vik is an amazing guy. We have a good relationship. We are the same age, and I have played here in the Premier League longer than him. Sometimes I give my opinion, and sometimes he gives his about goals because he knows. He’s a top striker, he scored a lot of goals in his previous club and I’m sure that he’s going to find a way to do the same for us because that would be good for us.”
With him and Gyokeres battling for the starting spot as Arsenal’s striker and Kai Havertz returning to fitness from his long-term injury, Jesus was asked if he could be the man to cement his spot as the north London side’s go-to centre-forward.
The Brazilian said: “Well, that’s a tough question because Vik is an amazing player. He’s a striker who can score goals every time, at every minute. Then also Kai is an amazing player, an amazing striker.
“I just find myself that I’m so happy that I come back. I had the toughest injury in my life, 11 months. And then just to come back the way I come back, I’m so glad.
“I have been in the position that Vik is now and it’s not easy. But I’m sure that everyone here, not only the coach and staff, the players as well, are going to support him and give him the belief that he’s here to help us.
“He has already helped us a lot. Every game, he has helped with something even when sometimes he does not score. He helps with another movement or fighting. Anything to win the game. In a club like Arsenal, there is no guaranteeing a spot to anyone.”
Jesus, himself a big-money striker signing to Arsenal in the summer of 2022, has endured his own scoring droughts since moving to north London. His goal in the Carabao Cup against Preston North End in October 2024 was his first in nine months.
Jesus is not the first Arsenal player to come out and defend Gyokeres’ adaptation to life in north London. In October, Bukayo Saka said: “Viktor is playing really well. He has settled in well with the group. Last season, we didn’t play with a striker like him. Kai (Havertz) is a different player from him.
“It is about us having to adapt to his game a bit and create a few more chances. He’s getting more and more settled each game.”
After the 3-2 victory over Bournemouth earlier this month, midfielder Declan Rice said: “It’s tough for him (Gyokeres), because he’s got two defenders on him all game, all over him.
“So he has to use his strength and do all he can to help the team. I see how hard he hits a ball, and when that space arrives for him, and the ball’s arriving at his feet to score goals, he will 100 per cent score. But at the moment, defenders in the Premier League want to be able to stop Viktor Gyokeres, because he’s one of the best strikers in the world. Trust me, he’s doing unbelievably for us, and we wouldn’t be where we are without him.”
Arsenal are top of the Champions League table, having won all six of their league phase games.