Arsenal’s Gabriel Jesus says he can empathize with Viktor Gyokeres after criticism of his team-mate’s scoring form this season and hopes the Swede shows how good he can be.
Gyokeres joined Arsenal from Sporting CP last summer in a deal worth a fixed fee of €63.5m (£55m, $75m) with possible add-ons of a further €10m. However, the Sweden international has struggled to adapt to life in England, scoring eight goals in 26 games.
Speaking ahead of Arsenal’s Champions League group stage match in Milan against last season’s finalists Inter, Jesus defended his team-mate.
He said: “Vik is an amazing guy. We have a good relationship. We are the same age and I have played here in the Premier League longer than him. Sometimes I give my opinion and other times he gives his on the goals because he knows it. “He is a top-level striker, he scored a lot of goals at his previous club and I am sure he will find a way to do the same for us because it would be good for us.”
With him and Gyokeres fighting for the starting spot as Arsenal’s striker and Kai Havertz returning to fitness following his long-term injury, Jesus was asked if he could be the man to cement his place as centre-forward for the north London side.
The Brazilian said: “Well, that is a difficult question because Vik is an incredible player. He is a striker who can score goals at all times, in every minute. Also, Kai is also an incredible player, an incredible striker.”
“I feel very happy to be back. I had the hardest injury of my life, 11 months. And then just to come back like I did, I’m very happy.
“I have been in the position Vik is in now and it is not easy. But I am sure that everyone here, not only the coach and the staff, but also the players, will support him and make him believe that he is here to help us.
“He has already helped us a lot. In every game he has helped with something, even when sometimes he doesn’t score. He helps with another move or fight. Anything to win the game. At a club like Arsenal, no one can be guaranteed a place.”
In addition to Jesús, Gyokeres (left) is competing with Kai Havertz (right) for the Arsenal starting centre-forward spot (Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Jesus, a big-money striker who signed for Arsenal in the summer of 2022, has endured his own scoring droughts since moving to north London. His Carabao Cup goal against Preston North End in October 2024 was his first in nine months.
Jesús is not the first Arsenal player to come out to defend Gyokeres’ adaptation to life in north London. In October, Bukayo Saka said: “Viktor is playing very well. He has adapted well to the group. Last season we did not play with a striker like him. Kai (Havertz) is a different player from him.
“It’s about us having to adapt to his game a little bit and create some more opportunities. He’s getting more and more settled with each game.”
After the 3-2 win over Bournemouth earlier this month, midfielder Declan Rice said: “It’s difficult for him (Gyokeres) because he has two defenders on him the whole game, on him.
“So he has to use his strength and do everything he can to help the team. I see how hard he hits the ball, and when that space comes to him and the ball reaches his feet to score goals, he will score 100 percent. But right now Premier League defenders want to be able to stop Viktor Gyokeres, because he is one of the best strikers in the world. Believe me, he is doing an incredible job for us and we wouldn’t be where we are without him.”
Arsenal top the Champions League standings, having won all six of their league stage matches.