Paul Merson mocked Gabriel Jesus’ goal record at Manchester City with the Arsenal striker in the midst of all too familiar dry spell.
Arsenal spent £45million on the Brazil international in the summer and the 25-year-old has had a transformative impact on a side that now looks fully equipped to challenge for a top four place at the very least.
Jesus scored five goals in nine games at the start of the new season but has now gone eight matches in all competitions without finding the back of the net.
Mikel Arteta handed his No.9 the opportunity to end his scoreless run by starting him in Thursday’s Europa League clash against minnows FC Zurich but Jesus again struggled in front of goal.
When it was pointed out to him that Jesus regularly went on lengthy runs without a goal by Soccer Saturday presenter Jeff Stelling, Merson scoffed and suggested it should be impossible not to thrive in City’s attack.
He said: ‘Shouldn’t be having them at Man City, you shouldn’t be having them at Man City.
Arsenal travel to Chelsea on Sunday hoping to cement their position at the top of the Premier League after which the Gunners will have just one game to play before the break for the World Cup.
‘There are going to be games where it’s going to be tight and you need your goalscorer,’ added Merson.
Asked about Jesus’ drought after their win on Thursday Arteta insisted he retained full faith in the striker and urged him to remain patient.
He said: ‘That’s going to change [his bad luck], he’s getting the situations, he’s getting the chances, he’s contributing to the team an awful lot, he’s helping to win matches, the way he competes for every ball in every single action is incredible.
‘It will come, he needs to be patient, he’s been through that in the past and he needs to learn those lessons and don’t stop doing those other things that he’s doing so well, because that’s going to maintain the level of him and the team.’
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