Arsenal completed their fourth summer transfer window signing as Gabriel Jesus made the move to the Emirates from Manchester City for £45million.
Jesus was keen to move on from the Etihad after City completed the signings of Julian Alvarez and Erling Haaland, with the Brazilian striker wanting guaranteed first team football ahead of the Qatar World Cup later this year. The 25-year-old has taken the no.9 shirt for the Gunners and will become their first choice striker, despite Eddie Nketiah signing a new long-term deal after an impressive end to last season.
The Gunners had Jesus at the top of their striker shortlist this summer and finally announced the arrival of the Brazilian earlier this week. Jesus' move from City to north London has been criticised by pundits in his homeland of Brazil, labelling the 25-year-old's new team as a 'small club'.
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As reported by Sport Witness, many Brazilian media outlets closely covered Jesus’ move from Manchester City to Arsenal this summer. There is an excitement in South America to see how the former City striker will perform at the Emirates next season, leading the line for Mikel Arteta's side.
However, Band TV presenter Neto, one of the most influential hosts in the country’s football media, has mocked Jesus' move to Arsenal, labelling the north London club as a 'small, small club'.
Speaking on Band TV, Neto said: “I saw that Gabriel Jesus went to Arsenal. Small club. Small club. Portuguesa Santista are bigger than Arsenal. Arsenal have won what in the last five years?”
His claims compared the Gunners to a non-league club in Brazil, and now believes the player may miss his chance to win a place at the World Cup. The pundit then compared the £45million Arsenal signing to Gabigol, claiming the Flamengo star has been showing a lot more in recent years.
Neto continued: “Then Gabriel Jesus, who broke through at Palmeiras, five years at Manchester City, two years without scoring for the Brazilian national team, do you think he deserves to go to the World Cup? Or Gabigol, who’s been scoring a lot of goals for five years?”
Jesus has struggled to replicate his club form with the national team, after failing to score at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, before suffering a similar fate at the 2021 Copa America. Brazil manager Tite has shown faith in Jesus and still called the 25-year-old up into the national squad, with the player hoping that a fresh start at Arsenal can help him guarantee his place in Qatar this year.
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