Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus has blasted Yerry Mina for “talking s***” during the Gunners’ pre-season win over Everton.
Mikel Arteta inspired his North London outfit to a 2-0 win over their Premier League rivals in Baltimore, America on Sunday morning. Jesus and Bukayo Saka scored in quick succession in the first half to make it three wins from three games in Arsenal's pre-season.
During the friendly, there was a flashpoint that saw Jesus and Everton defender Mina clash - and Arsenal's marquee summer arrival has given his side of the altercation with his former teammate. The duo previously played together nine times for Brazilian side Palmeiras before swapping South America for England.
Colombian Mina joined Everton in 2018 after a brief stint with Barcelona, while Jesus arrived at City in 2017 and spent five-and-a-half successful years at the Etihad before joining the Gunners this summer. Discussing the incident at the weekend, Jesus confessed he was shocked about Mina’s actions and his X-rated response.
“You know what, I have played with Mina before in Palmeiras,” the 25-year-old told TNT Sports. “We were so close to each other. Then, after, I don’t know why he started to attack me to do something like this on my chest and then talking s***. I don’t know why.
“I don’t know the reason for him to do this. At the end, I am not a kid any more and I go straight to him as well. After we on the game and that’s all.”
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Jesus has had an excellent start to life in an Arsenal shirt, scoring three goals already. He has taken up the mantle of being the main man up front for the Gunners. Jesus enjoyed a hugely-successful stint with City that saw him win four Premier League titles and score 95 times in 236 appearances in all competitions.
The 56-cap Brazil international arrives at the Emirates Stadium with one of the best Premier League minutes-per-goal ratios in the competition's 30-year history. Scoring 58 goals from 159 top-flight outings, Jesus averages a goal in the Premier League every 160 minutes, putting him above the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Andy Cole and Didier Drogba and 17th on the all-time list.
Jesus is not the only member of City’s 2021/22 Premier League title-winning side set to be playing under Arteta in the upcoming campaign. Ukrainian international Oleksandr Zinchenko is closing in on a move worth up to £32m including add-ons to join the Gunners.
After leaving UFA in 2016, Zinchenko has spent the past six years on City's books, making 128 appearances for the Sky Blues in all competitions while scoring two goals. Zinchenko’s arrival would see Arsenal’s summer spending climb to above £100million, as they have also signed Jesus, Fabio Vieira, Matt Turner and Marquinhos.
