- The Brazilian made the £45million move from Man City to Arsenal last season
- His impact on Arteta’s squad has been revelatory despite a string of injuries
- Listen to the latest episode of Mail Sport’s podcast ‘It’s All Kicking Off!’
Mikel Arteta says Gabriel Jesus has ‘changed Arsenal’s world’ as he relishes having the Brazilian to cause ‘chaos’ at Everton on Sunday.
The striker, who spent three years under Arteta at Manchester City before reuniting in a £45million move last year, scored off the bench to seal a win over Manchester United on his return from a second knee operation in the space of a year.
Arteta said: ‘He is a tremendous player, a really important player for us. He changed our world last season. He brought a different energy, a different belief, a different threat, a different fear to opponents. He contributed hugely to the step that we had last season.’
On Jesus, 26, bringing chaos, he said: ‘In certain areas of the pitch, I love it. In others, I hate it. So it’s where you produce that chaos. He draws a lot of attention from opponents with the way he plays and creates space for others. That’s a big quality of his.’
Jesus’s full return comes ahead of a trip to a ground where Arsenal have not won since Arsene Wenger was manager, and have lost four of five at Goodison Park since then.
Gabriel Jesus’ impact on Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal side cannot be understated – as his manager was keen to attest
But this time around, the Gunners are bolstered by recent additions William Saliba, Declan Rice, Kai Havertz and Ben White – all over 6ft.
‘Sometimes we cannot avoid a battle,’ said Arteta. ‘There are certain (aerial) balls that you have to prove yourself, and they have a certain style of play they’re extremely good at.
‘Our record speaks for itself. We’re going to have to earn it, we’re going to have to be at our best.’
