Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus has claimed that he is finally "smiling again" as he continues to impress since making the switch to the club earlier in the transfer window. The 25-year-old has hit the ground running, scoring two goals and assisting two in his first two games of the Premier League.
The Gunners worked hard to land the Brazilian in a £45million move from Manchester City, beating plenty of competition to sign him as part of the project. Given his start, manager Mikel Arteta has praised Jesus for raising the standards in the squad since making the arrival.
Discussing the striker, the Spaniard said: "He's [Gabriel Jesus] still disappointed in the dressing room because he said he could have scored four. That's the standard, that's the mentality. I think it lifts the standards with the way he's training every day and the way that he's talking and the way that they are connecting."
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There were plenty of questions surrounding the transfer though, mainly due to his role in the team and his previous positions before the move. The forward can play a number of ways, having played on the wing as well as a centre-forward, though it was the former that he has reverted to.
His lack of regular starts, goals and position left many wondering how he would fit in at the club, seemingly signing to be the new number nine. His fantastic start has proved some of those doubts wrong in the early stages, claiming he is very happy with his role up front.
Speaking to ESPN Brazil, he said: "After the World Cup I thought that I couldn't play as a No.9. I started playing much more on the wing at [Manchester] City and for Brazil. For a while I thought that. But I've changed my mentality, I believe much more in myself now. I'm smiling again playing football.
“I’m very blessed as I can play across all front three but I am a No.9. I am there to finish our chances. Not only that but to help the team as a whole.”
It remains to be seen exactly how his trajectory at the Emirates Stadium will continue, but it has certainly been a good start to his career so far.
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