Arsenal target Gabriel Jesus may have scored four goals at the weekend, but even that cannot guarantee him a place in the Manchester City team tonight.
That is an indication of how fierce the competition is at City and why, with a year left on his contract, he has refused to commit his future to the club.
Pep Guardiola also wants to sign a new centre-forward in the summer. Erling Haaland is his No1 target, and Jesus could leave after five-and-a-half years at the Etihad.
Arsenal are among the clubs interested in the Brazilian. Strengthening their forward line is a major priority for Mikel Arteta and he looks an ideal signing for the Gunners.
Jesus would tick a lot of the boxes for Arteta. Crucially, at 25, he still has his best years ahead of him. He is hungry and has a point to prove after struggling for regular starts at City.
Arsenal specifically targeted young players with room for growth last summer, and the enthusiasm of those signings has spread throughout the squad.
Arteta knows Jesus from his time as an assistant at City and is a fan of many of his qualities. He would suit the way Arteta wants to play, as he is technically and tactically astute, versatile, quick and a tireless worker off the ball when pressing the opposition.
Those traits would make Jesus an ideal fit for the young forward line at Arsenal, who are missing a proven goalscorer to help take them to the next level.
Jesus had scored only three Premier League goals this season, and one since September, before his four goals against Watford at the weekend.
But having arrived at City as a central striker, he now operates mostly on the right wing. That would be a different story at Arsenal, who can give him a central role, and that would surely be attractive to him.
City are unlikely to stand in Jesus’s way if he want to leave, so if he pushes for a move, then his wish should be granted, especially with only 12 months left on his contract. He would be a good addition for Arsenal, but if their recent sticky run showed us anything, it is that Arteta needs a variety of different options, particularly in attack.
Teams have found a way to stifle the Gunners, with Crystal Palace manager Patrick Vieira openly admitting that pressing Alexandre Lacazette made their attack break down. Jesus would, no doubt, improve Arsenal, but the signing of an additional forward feels necessary to give Arteta tactical flexibility.
Players in the mould of Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Tammy Abraham, two strikers scouted by Arsenal over the past year, would fit that brief.
Arsenal were particularly keen on Abraham last summer, however, they were unable to shift Eddie Nketiah or Lacazette to make room for him in the squad. The player himself was keen on the move, but could not wait for Arsenal and, ultimately, joined up with Jose Mourinho at Roma.
The Gunners could go back for Abraham this summer, but given his fine debut season in Italy, such a deal would likely be too expensive.
It is why Calvert-Lewin could emerge as a leading target, not least because Everton may well be relegated. That, combined with a tough season for the striker, would drop his valuation.
A reunion with Mikel Arteta could be the solution that suits both Gabriel Jesus and Arsenal
A player like that would give Arsenal a different way of attacking; the chance to be direct when short and sharp passing is not working. There could also be space in the team for Jesus, who can play left, right or even off a central striker like Calvert-Lewin.
For now, Jesus says he is focused on firing City to Champions League and Premier League glory. Time will tell what happens after that, but a reunion with Arteta could be the solution that suits both the player and Arsenal.
