After a tumultuous time dogged by injuries and the spotlight-stealing £65million arrival of Kai Havertz, there have been whispers that the Brazilian's stint in North London might be cut short amid fat cheques waving from Saudi Arabia. But the 27-year-old striker marched into the season with gutsy resolve to notch up minutes and its seemingly paying dividends.
According to The Sun, Arsenal's marksman is ready to fight for his first-team place at the Emirates, irrespective of rumoured £60m bids from Saudi Pro League clubs. Jesus proved he's got the mettle to stick around, contributing to Arsenal's slick 2-0 victory over Gary O'Neil's Wolves on opening day, and a post-match chat revealed Arteta sees him as a key player in the squad's title push.
And now it's been claimed Jesus is set to knuckle down and scrap for his spot at the Emirates, with interest from wealthy Saudi clubs getting the cold shoulder. Speaking after the game, Arteta suggested he would not be pursuing a new forward this transfer window.
He said: "I have faith in [Kai Havertz], we have faith in Gabriel [Jesus], Leandro [Trossard] has played in that position," beamed Arteta after Havertz netted the lead against the Wolves.
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"So we have different qualities in there, and the best thing we can do is trust our players and try to improve them. They are so good and so willing and that's what we focus on."
Jesus' improvement didn't go unnoticed by his boss, who was particularly chuffed with his performance during their US spree - especially against Erik ten Hag's Man Utd crew, reports the Mirror.
"He looks really good," gushed Arteta, heaping praise on Jesus after he knocked in a corker against United. "He looks really sharp. He has changed a lot of things over the summer.
"He has come in top condition again. And when you have that baseline, other things can be built, but without that foundation, you don't have a player. He needs to be in that condition to get the best out of him. He has realised that. And I'm really happy with what he's shown today again.
"The way he looks, his rhythm, his sharpness, the way he is moving. You can see in his eyes as well that there is again some spark there because he has got now a point to prove."
With Arsenal deciding not to splash the cash on big-gun strikers like Viktor Gyokeres and Alexander Isak despite summer rumours, Jesus has got a real chance to show he's up to the standard
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