Gabriel Jesus says Arsenal must stick together as they prepare for their most important game of the season at Manchester City on Wednesday.
Arsenal are top of the Premier League and five points clear of second-placed City, but Pep Guardiola’s side have two games in hand.
The Gunners’ lead was eight points at the start of this month. However, it has been slashed after drawing their past three games. On Friday, they left it late to tie 3-3 with bottom-of-the-table Southampton at home.
Mikel Arteta’s side are hoping to turn the tide at Etihad Stadium, but Arsenal have not won there since January 2015. City are also currently on a 16-game unbeaten run.
“It will be a big game,” said Jesus. “Even if we don’t drop the points we dropped in the last games, nothing changes — it’s a final.
“Each game is a final, we have to face them like a final. We lost something that is making things difficult for ourselves, but we will be back.
“Then, obviously, everyone is together again and that’s it. We have another final to play. This is the most important game of the season for us.
“We have to understand that every point can decide the League. But now it’s time to stick together. This is the Premier League, it’s so difficult to win it. We are not here to always give excuses, but it’s a tough league.”
While Wednesday’s game is huge for Arsenal and their title aspirations, it is also a massive one for Jesus. The striker was signed from City in the summer, as part of a deal worth £45million.
Jesus has impressed in that time, not least for his leadership skills, and he is one of Arsenal’s vice-captains.
The Brazilian, who missed three months of the season after injuring his knee, has come under fire for his lack of goals, though. Jesus has managed nine this season, but statistics show he is under-performing.
It has been a problem for the 26-year-old in the past and was part of the reason why City pushed to sign Erling Haaland.
Jesus has the perfect opportunity to silence his critics on Wednesday. He has had bright moments during his first season at Arsenal, namely scoring in the 3-1 win over Tottenham in October, but a match-winning performance against his old club would eclipse everything else.
