Arsenal star Gabriel Jesus hopes that Brazil pal Richarlison can battle with him for the Premier League Golden Boot next season after joining rivals Tottenham Hotspur.
The pair of strikers, who're good friends and both scrap it out at international level to be the their national team's No.9, have each headed south this summer and will begin to represent their north London clubs once the top-flight season gets under way in less than three weeks' time. Jesus, fresh after securing a £45million move to Arsenal from Manchester City, is desperate to prove himself as one of the Premier League's best marksmen and wants Richarlison to do the same after his £60m switch to arch-rivals Tottenham.
"I hope that we can both end the season fighting for the Golden Boot because I like him," Jesus said of his compatriot, who'll be aiming to usurp 2021-22 winner Mohamed Salah. "He's a very good guy, amazing player, so I wish him all the best but not against us!"
After scoring 95 goals over five-and-a-half years in Manchester, the former City ace has already bagged three in his first two pre-season friendlies for the Gunners. Richarlison, meanwhile, has blanked in both of his appearances for Spurs, although manager Antonio Conte is backing his new frontman to come good.
"I think he is strong physically and a good personality, good character, good quality," Conte stated after the ex- Everton talisman's energetic debut, as Tottenham thrashed the K-League All-Stars 6-3. "For sure also for Richy in this period, he is working and we are working on the tactical aspects with him because he has to go into our idea. At the same time, we have to work on the physical aspects for him to be fit.
"But for sure he is a player that gives me important positions up front. He's is a good player, strong and very good [at] protecting the ball and attacking the space. Also, he made a good assist, I'm very happy that we signed him."
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has been similarly impressed with Jesus' impact, saying: "He looks really sharp, really dynamic. (He's got) a really good understanding with his team-mates straight away. They are looking for him, he's generating chances, good connections around specific spaces we want to exploit with him especially, and yeah, we're really happy.'
Gunners midfielder Martin Odegaard is also relishing the chance to play alongside his new teammate over the course of 22-23, declaring: "I've only trained with him for a few days now, but it doesn't take long to see that he has a lot of qualities. I think he will bring a lot of good things to the team. I've seen him play a lot for Man City and yes, I think we are lucky to have him.
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"I'm really excited to play with him and link up, I think it could be fun. You see a lot in training to see what he's like. Strikers want different things but you have to watch him in training to see where he wants the ball. My job is to feed him and try to make him score goals. That's what I want to do.
"I have to learn his movements, how he wants the ball, where he wants the ball and those kinds of things. It takes a little bit of time but, in training, you can see what it's like and I think it will be fine."
Jesus and Richarlison will meet for their first north London derby on the weekend of October 1 at the Emirates.
