Former Arsenal and Manchester United defender Mikael Silvestre doesn't believe Gabriel Jesus will reach the levels of Harry Kane and Erling Haaland in the Premier League next season.
The north Londoners officially unveiled the Brazilian international as their fourth men's signing of the summer last week - following deals for fellow countryman Marquinhos, Portugal Under-21 star Fabio Vieira and American goalkeeper Matt Turner.
Jesus had a magical start to his Arsenal career as he netted a brace in the Gunners' 5-3 win over Nurnberg on Friday evening. Although it's only pre-season, he's already showing that he's more than up to the challenge of being Mikel Arteta's main man.
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That being said, Silvestre doesn't think the Brazilian can match the output of Kane and Haaland - the latter of whom replaced Jesus at Manchester City. When asked that exact question in an exclusive interview with Lord Ping, he said: "Gabriel Jesus is a good addition for Arsenal, but I still don’t see him as a top goal-scorer or a finisher.
"He’s got so much to his game but right now he’ll just have to try and replace Aubameyang or Lacazette. It’s going to take him time to become that No. 9 nine because at City, they had Aguero and he didn’t establish himself when he left as the main No. nine."
Whilst the statistics do support Silvestre's viewpoint, Jesus' challenge is to now prove him and other doubters wrong by matching the numbers produced by the league's best.
Arsenal have been desperate for a goalscorer to join the club since Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's poor start to last season and subsequent departure to Barcelona, and fans will be hoping Jesus is the man to get things going again in front of goal.
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