Arsenal have their own version of Lionel Messi, and Mikel Arteta's side are playing like Barcelona after a scintillating first half against Bournemouth.
The Gunners have started the season well with two wins out of two and after Gabriel Jesus started brilliantly against Bournemouth in the first half, setting up the first goal with a jinxing run and exquisite pass, the former Manchester City forward has 'transformed' his new team already.
Martin Odegaard first tapped in after Jesus' jinxing run and delightful pass, before his touch set up Odegaard for the second. The play from the away side was so good that Jesus' own performance was compared with Messi by a former Barca striker.
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Gary Lineker made the statement, saying, "a goal for Odergaard but all the work was done by Jesus, who appears to have morphed into Messi."
A goal for Odergaard but all the work was done by Jesus, who appears to have morphed into Messi.
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker)
This comes after Jesus had previously been told that Jesus could take them on to be title challengers, with Alan Smith saying that Arteta's side are putting themselves in a position to challenge for the league once more.
With two goals and two assists against Leicester City last week, following on from a free-flowing performance against Crystal Palace on his full debut, Jesus has hit the ground running in red and although Smith didn't expect the impact to be that quick, he can see the long-term value in his signing.
Smith described Jesus' play for the first goal as "sensational" before adding, "you won’t see a better piece of centre-forward play than this."
Jesus took on three Bournemouth players with his mazy dribble before slipping through a reverse pass to set up the first goal which was tapped in by Martin Odegaard, and Smith was in awe, saying, "first of all strength but when you knock off the centre-half it’s not easy to get the touch but he’s cushioned it beautifully and after that try and keep this man down.
"We’ve spoken about Jesus and he has not disappointed, this is spectacular from him, what a start from the Gunners… I mean get out the way Senesi, the battle with the man from Feyenoord, he’s come second best by a mile there."
Smith, who scored 95 times for the Gunners, also said, "I would say so [that Jesus can be an Arsenal great]. You need to be part of a successful team, one that’s created chances, is he going to be in a title-winning side? Maybe not in the next couple of years but that’s not beyond the realms if they keep improving.
"You’ve got Odegaard, Saka, Martinelli, Smith Rowe, these kind of players that can see a pass and for a player like him playing those channels that should be a dream and the understanding is only going to get better."
Jesus is now playing as the main forward at Arsenal whereas he was pushed around the front three by Pep Guardiola, and Smith thinks that he is offering output that previous forwards haven't at the club. Smith added: "He hasn’t wasted any time at all, his confidence can’t be higher. I think he’s transformed this Arsenal attack with his pace and hunger, much different to Lacazette and Aubameyang, the fact is he’s got so many players in behind he won’t be short on chances this season.
"It’s that appetite for the game to know your first choice, he wasn’t that at Man City but to know you’re going to play through the middle most weeks does wonders to your confidence. It’s been brilliant and he’s big with the fans and he’s only going to get better because he will still be learning the ins and outs of playing through the middle.
"The action he had for Man City, it was as a sub or it was on the right-hand side, so now he’s down the middle, got the No. 9. The responsibilities there, the pressure’s there, and he’s thriving on it."
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