Manchester City striker Gabriel Jesus has been heavily linked with a summer transfer to Arsenal in recent days.
The north Londoners are in need of at least one centre-forward after allowing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to join Barcelona in January whilst both Eddie Nketiah and Alexandre Lacazette are into the final three months of their respective contracts at the Emirates Stadium. football.london understands that Jesus is one name on the Gunners' shortlist, with technical director Edu holding talks with the Brazilian international's representatives over the last few months.
Now, football.london has detailed two potential line-ups Mikel Arteta could deploy next season if Jesus did make the move to the capital, a transfer that could cost between £42million-£59million if CIES Football Observatory's valuation of the player is anything to go by.
READ MORE: Gabriel Jesus breaks silence on Manchester City future amid Arsenal transfer interest
Jesus leads the line
The most obvious choice would be to play Arteta's recently favoured 4-3-3 system, with a midfield consisting of Thomas Partey, Granit Xhaka and Martin Odegaard. Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka would then be deployed as wide forwards while Jesus could play centrally.
When playing as an out and out no.9 for City, the 25-year-old boasts an incredible goal record, notching 81 goals and 34 assists in just 11,015 minutes - working out as a direct goal contribution every 96 minutes. The Brazilian's hold-up play and ability to press from the front would also suit Arteta's system.
In fact, Jesus has registered 2.85 progressive passes, 0.25 xA (expected assists) and 1.57 key passes per 90 minutes in the Premier League this season. Comparatively, Lacazette has managed just 1.84, 0.1 and 1.26 in those three respective categories, as per fbref.
Guardiola inspiration
Arteta could also take inspiration from his former mentor and current City boss Pep Guardiola in the way that he has used Jesus this season. The former Barcelona manager has predominantly utilised the talented forward on the wing, playing an attacking midfielder through the middle instead.
The Gunners could experiment with Hale End academy graduate Emile Smith Rowe as a false nine, with Saka and Jesus on the flanks to provide movement in being opposition defences. And the former Palmeiras youngster has recently admitted that he is more than happy to operate out wide to help the team.
When quizzed about playing on the flanks, he replied: "We have a lot of good strikers and wingers, everyone wants to play and that's the challenge to keep focussed and when you get an opportunity try to do your best. I’ll play as a straight [central] player, I can go there, upfront, run everywhere and try to fight, regain the ball, attack.
"I think this is my quality. I play on the streets until I was 15, arrive at Palmeiras at 15.
"I learn a lot from that, there I play like this. Sometimes I put videos I’m running everywhere and that’s my quality.
“I’m happy because I have the confidence from the manager and from the players. When I start, Riyad starts, Raz, Phil (Foden), Grealish, Bernardo (Silva) upfront, (Ilkay) Gundo(gan).
"We try our best. We have the experience, I’m still young but the last five to six years I play a little bit tough in big games."
