Gabriel Jesus says he cannot remember the last time he played football without pain.
Speaking ahead of Arsenal’s Champions League quarter-final first leg against Bayern Munich, Jesus added that it is “unfair” to compare him to strikers like Harry Kane and Erling Haaland when his role as a forward often differs from that of a more traditional centre forward.
Most of the Brazil international’s appearances for Arsenal this season have come as a No 9, but he has also been used off the wings by Mikel Arteta.
He has been played off the left in their last two matches, with Kai Havertz up front, as well as earlier in the season when Eddie Nketiah was leading the line. The 27-year-old also played as a right winger in the 1-0 win over Manchester City in October — a role he often occupied for the Etihad Stadium club.
“I don’t want to come here and say Gabi doesn’t care about playing as a winger when his position normally is a nine,” he said. “In this part of the season, you don’t complain. I never complain. When I get the chance I will show the manager and everyone else why I have to play.
“This part of the season I’ll put my ego aside and do what the manager wants to help the team. It’s not easy, not just for me but for Eddie as well. Kai is having amazing games and scoring. That’s the price you pay if you want to be in a big club.”
Wherever he is played, Jesus is insistent that context is provided in discussions about him. Kane and Haaland are topics that surround him because he will face the former in the Champions League on Tuesday and the latter replaced him at Manchester City.
Haaland joined City in the summer of 2022, when Jesus was later sold to Arsenal (Joe Prior/Visionhaus via Getty Images)
Kane has scored 38 goals for Bayern this season, while Haaland has 82 in 89 games since signing for City. Although Kane tends to drop into midfield more to provide for his wingers, both have much more of a presence in the box than Jesus who naturally drifts across the pitch.
“Even if I’m playing in a position like they are, I think it’s unfair because we are different types of players,” Jesus added. “That’s my opinion. I have played this season maybe 40 per cent on the wing but people only want to know the result and if I’ve scored or not. That’s football today. It’s not just with me but it’s a lot of strikers like this. I’ll never complain when someone asks me what I think.”
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Jesus’ fitness has also been an issue for Arsenal since arriving from City in the summer of 2022. He was a game-changing signing for Arsenal at the start of the 2022-23 campaign, but has struggled with injuries since sustaining a three-month knee issue at the 2022 World Cup with Brazil.
Jesus has had three lengthy absences this season (two knee and one hamstring) which have made for a stop-start campaign.
“I’m just trying to get fit and help Arsenal as much as I can,” Jesus said. “Unfortunately, I’ve had some problems this season and I hope next season I don’t have those.
“Sometimes I feel it (pain in his knee) but I don’t remember the last day I played football without pain so I cannot complain. I’m just trying to recover well and then that’s it. Mentally I try to keep strong in my mind and that’s it.”
Jesus’ recent return to fitness is one of many for Arteta of late. Takehiro Tomiyasu, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Fabio Vieira and Thomas Partey coming back has strengthened his bench massively, and now Jurrien Timber is the only player not ready for minutes. His availability is an extra boost for Arsenal as one of the few players in this young squad with Champions League knockout experience and an impressive record of 24 goals and seven assists in 44 appearances in the competition.
(Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
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