Gabriel Jesus redeemed himself with a Player of the Match performance during Arsenal’s 2-1 win over Nottingham Forest on Tuesday, recording a goal and an assist to keep his team alive in the Premier League title race. The Brazilian had been the target of criticism for his lack of ruthlessness in front of the net this season, but he admitted that’s his fault for not focusing too much on scoring goals.
“Sometimes it is all about stats and sometimes it is all about watching the game. Let’s go, come on. If you watch the game, you see me playing… I am close to 100 in the Premier League – that’s not easy,” said Jesus, boasts 73 Premier League goals throughout his career. “Then in the Champions League I am scoring a lot, in the national team I score. Sometimes, like I say, I am not focused on that (scoring goals) and that’s I think my mistake. So now, I think I change my mindset and I will be in the box more – and I try everything to score.”
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Gabriel Jesus vows to change his approach
“Also I am changing my mindset, I think I am more focused on the game now. Before, when I miss one or two chances (I may have got disheartened)… I think that was not the case today. I think I created and my team gave me the ball – it was amazing – and I hit the post. I think it was more unlucky than a miss, but I keep trying. A minute after, I create another one and I miss the time to shoot, but I keep working, I keep trying, I keep focused on the game. I try to find another way to score and it worked. Sometimes it is all about this. Keep trying and then it works,” Jesus added.
The 26-year-old has a fair point. While his four goals in 17 Premier League games led to criticism towards his ability to be Arsenal’s number 9, many seem to overlook the fact that he netted four times in five UEFA Champions League fixtures this term.
Regardless of the critics, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has never lost his confidence on the Brazilian striker.
“Gabi started to win the game two days ago,” the Gunners’ boss said about Jesus. “He had an issue with his knee and everyone was trying to protect him and saying don’t go outside. But he was saying (matchday) -2, (matchday) -1, I want to be there I want to help the team to win the game. When you have that mentality, good things are going to happen. I’m really pleased with him.
“He got hit big time in the last game. His knee reacted and it’s the knee he had (surgery on) before. He was super positive, he’s feeling good and he was so sharp in training. I’m not surprised with the way he played.”
