£45million striker Gabriel Jesus hasn't scored a goal for nine games - but Arsenal are still winning.
That's because, as Gunners legend Lauren explains, the 25-year-old Brazilian is bringing a new dynamic to Mikel Arteta 's side. In Sunday's hard-fought 1-0 victory over Chelsea, Jesus blanked again but brought a tenacity on and off the ball which has struck fear into opponents since he made a statement-like transfer move from newly-crowned champions Manchester City in June.
Chasing down Chelsea stalwart Thiago Silva to win the vital corner which led to Arsenal's winning goal, Jesus reminded everyone that he wasn't just a goalscorer but a wholly unselfish forward. Ex-Gunners right-back Lauren, who played a significant role in helping Arsene Wenger 's men remain unbeaten throughout their their historic 2003-04 campaign, saw the triumph at Chelsea as the perfect example of why Arteta chose to sign Jesus.
The three-time Premier League winner, speaking on behalf of 888sport, exclusively told Mirror Football: "When I saw Gabriel Jesus [on Sunday], he was fantastic. The way he didn't score but the fact he came and dropped into a deeper position, he attracted two or three [Chelsea] players and created the space for the [Arsenal] midfielders to attack it.
"It was absolutely brilliant; the way he moved, his mobility, the way that every time he makes a run the defenders think, 'this guy can score at any moment'. If you keep him fit until the end of the season, we're gonna be there [in the title race]."
After starting his Arsenal career strongly with five goals in eight Premier League games, as well as three assists, teams look to have sussed Jesus out when it comes to his goalscoring exploits. But that's only part of the problem, as the Brazil international - renowned for his tenacious work rate and pressing capacity during his four-and-a-half-year spell in Manchester - has been instrumental to why Arteta's side sit prettily at the top of the table with only one game to go before the World Cup.
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While Erling Haaland is running away with the Golden Boot this season, Jesus leads the way among Premier League strikers for a lesser-thought-of metric - tackling. With 18 successful tackles to his name, the former City marksman is a whopping seven clear of second-placed Ivan Toney of Brentford, illustrating his desire to contribute to the Gunners' title charge by any means necessary.
Additionally, Jesus sits at the league summit for interceptions with six, as Toney again trails him in second. The amount of fouls which the Palmeiras academy graduate either wins or concedes is another telling statistic behind his impactful style of play.
After 13 games, Jesus has been chopped down by scrambling defenders a division-high 36 times, but his 24 fouls committed also put him top when it comes to that metric - at least highlighting how busy he likes to keep himself when leading Arsenal's line.
So, with all the underlying numbers in mind, Arteta can let fantasy football punters lament Jesus' lack of goals all they like, because there's no doubt that he's doing more than enough for the Gunners right now.
Lauren, was speaking on behalf of 888sport. Head to 888sport for the latest sporting odds.
