GABRIEL JESUS' FIRST WORDS AFTER ARRIVING IN BARCELONA AHEAD OF €10 MOVE: 'EAGER TO SCORE GOALS'

 

Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images

Barcelona are moving a step closer to completing the signing of Gabriel Jesus from Arsenal.

The Brazilian forward is set to join the club on a €10 million contract, with an additional €4 million in add-ons and Arsenal retaining a 20% sell-on fee clause.

Gabriel is slated for a medical today in Barcelona and ahead of that medical, the player appears to have already arrived in the city.

Gabriel reacts after arriving at Barcelona

Spanish journalist Victor Navarro has captured videos of Gabriel Jesus arriving in the Barcelona city this afternoon, ahead of his medical.

The forward can be seen waving the fans and even reacting to his Barcelona move for the first time after the speculations broke.

“I am eager to score many goals at Barça!” said the Arsenal forward, who is being signed as a momentary alternative to Julian Alvarez.

The Argentine was Barcelona’s top target this summer but Atletico Madrid were able to keep hold of the striker, prompting the club to sign Gabriel as an alternative.

The former Man City starlet, who was targeted by Barça way back in 2016, will be expected to operate as a number nine whenever required.

Gabriel arrives fully fit

Apart from waving at fans and showing his eagerness to getting things started at Barcelona, Gabriel Jesus offered a critical update no his fitness as well.

Gabriel Jesus is soon expected to complete his move to Barcelona. (Photo by James Fearn/Getty Images)

When asked about his injury situation, the forward replied, “My injury? My knee it’s perfect!”

This will serve as a massive relief for Barcelona fans who were worried about Gabriel’s recent issues with injury, which had drastically reduced his game-time.

With Gabriel now back to full fitness, it will be interesting to see whether or not the Brazilian international can rekindle his old form and make a big difference at Barcelona.

The forward’s past experience, coupled with his versatility in the final third should make quite the asset for Hansi Flick, but only if he can perform up to his level this season.

- Connell Edgar-Jones

AFTER TROSSARD: ANOTHER ATTACKER IS ON HIS WAY OUT OF ARSENAL AS ARTETA EYES MAJOR REBUILD

Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

Arsenal’s attacking rebuild is gathering pace, with Mikel Arteta prepared to make several difficult decisions after guiding the club to the Premier League title.

Rather than allowing successful players to remain because of past contributions, the Gunners appear determined to refresh the squad and create room for younger or more reliable attacking options.

The departure of Leandro Trossard has already changed the picture on the left wing, while another experienced forward could now follow him out of the Emirates.

Injuries and increased competition have reduced his importance, leaving Arsenal ready to listen to offers before his contract expires.

AC Milan emerge as leading contenders for Jesus

According to TEAMtalk, Arsenal are actively trying to sell Gabriel Jesus, with AC Milan currently among the strongest contenders for his signature.

The 29-year-old has entered the final year of his contract, and the Gunners are reportedly prepared to consider proposals worth around £20 million.

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Jesus made only 14 Premier League appearances last season, scoring six goals, and now finds himself behind Viktor Gyökeres and Kai Havertz in Arteta’s attacking hierarchy.

Milan have made contact, while Juventus, Atlético Madrid and clubs in Turkey are also understood to have explored the situation.

A move to Italy could appeal to the Brazilian. Football Italia recently reported that Jesus had spoken positively about Serie A, admitting that playing in Italian football had been a childhood dream.

His experience, movement and ability to cover several forward positions could make him a useful option for Milan.

Arsenal expected to rebuild attack this summer

Jesus could become the second experienced attacker to leave Arsenal this summer.

Leandro Trossard has left the club to join Besiktas after Arsenal agreed a transfer worth approximately £17m.

Sky Sports reported that the Belgian was given permission to travel to Istanbul and complete the move after recording 36 goals in 174 Arsenal appearances.

Selling Jesus makes sense if Arsenal already have replacements lined up. His quality has never been in doubt, but repeated injury problems have made it difficult for Arteta to depend on him consistently.

However, Arsenal should avoid accepting a heavily discounted offer simply because his contract is running down.

A fee near £20m would be reasonable, particularly given his wages and fitness record.

With Trossard already gone, losing Jesus would leave the attack noticeably younger and less experienced.

- Ahad Shaukat

GABRIEL JESUS APPEARS TO SLAP ATLÉTICO MADRID STAR AS TEMPERS FLAIR AFYER ARSENAL WIN

Gabriel Jesus appeared to slap Marc Pubill shortly after Arsenal’s semi-final win (Picture: X)

Atletico Madrid defender Marc Pubill appeared to get slapped in the face by Gabriel Jesus as he aggressively intruded on Arsenal’s celebrations after last night’s Champions League semi-final second leg.

A week on from the sides’ 1-1 draw in Madrid, Bukayo Saka scored the decisive goal to send the Gunners through to this year’s showpiece, where they will face either Paris Saint-Germain or Bayern Munich.

Budapest’s Puskas Arena will stage Arsenal’s second-ever appearance in a Champions League final on May 30, two decades on from the club’s painful defeat to Barcelona when Arsene Wenger was at the helm.

Wild celebrations broke out at the Emirates as referee Daniel Siebert blew his whistle to signal full-time, with Mikel Arteta’s jubilant squad soaking up the occasion with supporters inside the stadium.

But the moment took an unsavoury turn as Atleti right-back Pubill shoved an unsuspecting Viktor Gyokeres from behind, sparking a furious reaction from Cristhian Mosquera and Jesus, who had been arm-in-arm with their Swedish team-mate.

Fan footage shows Mosquera attempting to shepherd Pubill away from Gyokeres, but not before Jesus – an unused substitute on the night -appeared to land a heavy blow on the side of the Spaniard’s face – sending his head spinning backwards.

Myles Lewis-Skelly and Declan Rice were both seen trying to deescalate the situation and Pubill eventually off walked off, before making his way towards the away dressing room in north London.

Saka scored the decisive goal in north London (Picture: Getty)

It was initially unclear what had triggered Pubill to approach Gyokeres at full-time and neither manager was asked about the incident when facing the media in the immediate aftermath.

However, a separate clip doing the rounds on social media shows Gyokeres goading Pubill just moments earlier, screaming in the full-back’s direction on the halfway line.

Gyokeres gave Atleti’s defenders a torrid time for much of the clash, doing the dirty work and proving a handful in what is arguably his finest and most important performance yet for the Gunners.

‘He was immense,’ Arteta said of Gyokeres’ display when talking to Amazon Prime shortly after the final whistle.

‘You can see the reaction from the crowd every time he had the ball, his work-rate and what he’s giving the team is just incredible.’

A beaming Arteta said he had never before felt such a ‘special’ and ‘unique’ energy inside the Emirates during his reign as head coach.

‘It’s an incredible night. We made history again together. I cannot be happier and prouder of everyone involved in this football club,’ he added.

‘The manner that we got to see outside the stadium was special and unique.

Arsenal’s players soaked up the moment with fans in the Emirates crowd (Picture: Getty)

‘The atmosphere that our supporters created, the energy, the way they lived every ball with us, it made it special and unique. I never felt that in the stadium.

‘We knew how much it meant to everybody. We put everything in, the boys did an incredible job.

- Tom Olver

BRAZILIAN SOCCER LEGEND ROMARIO AT ARSENAL'S SOBHA REALITY TRAINING CENTER

 

BUKAYO SAKA WITH GABI JESUS' DAUGHTER AFTER BEATING ASTON VILLA 4-1

 

GABRIEL JESUS RECREATED KAKA'S ICONIC CELEBRATION

 

PALMEIRAS, FLAMENGO FIGHTING TO SIGN GABRIEL JESUS

Palmeiras and Flamengo are the major contenders for Arsenal star Gabriel Jesus ahead of the future window, with the striker likely to be allowed to leave.

According to Fichajes, Gabriel Jesus continued to attract big interest from clubs in his homeland, Brazil. It appears Flamengo and boyhood club Palmeiras are the prime contenders for the 28-year-old Arsenal utility man, who could be allowed to leave the North London side for the right offer.

Gabriel Jesus suffered an unfortunate Anterior Cruciate Ligament injury back in January, and he continues to recover from the problem ahead of a possible return at the end of the year. The Brazilian has been a key star for Mikel Arteta, but his influence has waned over the last 12 months or so.

Arteta would be open to selling him, and the club are open to offers if the right proposal arrives on their table. Due to his injury, there weren’t a host of clubs keen on him, but Arsenal are reportedly demanding at least £30-35 million to offload him.

Whether that is something that interested parties will pay remains the question, as the major interest continues to evolve from Brazilian giants Flamengo and Palmeiras. It was the latter where Jesus came through as a player before his move to Manchester City and then to Arsenal.

Flamengo have been interested back in the summer, and they could make a concerted effort to bring him back to Brazil in January, if they can get a deal in place with Arsenal. The prospects of it are a little challenging, given the player’s wages and what the Gunners might demand for his sale.

Palmeiras could be the favourites to land Gabriel Jesus

Palmeiras have the obvious advantage in the race for Jesus, given their past association with the player, and the 28-year-old Arsenal utility man could be open to the idea. However, it may be the finances that play a crucial role, as the Brazilian giants will certainly look at leveraging a deal, given Arsenal does not want the player anymore since the arrival of Viktor Gyokeres in the summer.

It remains to be seen how Arteta plans for the 28-year-old Arsenal utility man’s future, given that he could still integrate him if there is a lack of offers. However, on the front of him moving away, right now, there are only the two Brazilian sides that are keen, although that could change if Jesus proves his fitness in the coming months.

- TheHardTackle 

ARSENAL HANDED QUADRUPLE SUSPENSION BOOST FOR PSG CHAMPIONS LEAGUE CLASH AS UEFA RULES EXPLAIN

Referee Francois Letexier shows a yellow card to David Raya of Arsenal during the UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg with Real Madrid (Image: (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images))

Arsenal will be without one player due to suspension for the Champions League semi-final first leg with Paris Saint-Germain

Arsenal may have a number of players doubtful for the Champions League semi-final clash with PSG due to injury, but they can be thankful that UEFA rules mean they do not have players walking a suspension tightrope.

The Gunners will definitely be without six players, with Takehiro Tomiyasu, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Magalhaes and Riccardo Calafiori ruled out through injury and Thomas Partey suspended for the first leg clash at the Emirates Stadium.

And there are also doubts over the fitness of the likes of Mikel Merino and Ben White, both of whom were spotted in training at London Colney yesterday, while Jorginho has been absent from the last three matchday squads too.

But while there was confusion over Thomas Partey's suspension for the clash, the Gunners may well be grateful for UEFA rules stopping as many as four other players from walking a suspension tightrope.

Partey picked up his third yellow card in the competition late on in the second leg of the quarter-final win over Real Madrid in the Santiago Bernabeu.

Under UEFA rules, Article 52.04 states : "All yellow cards expire on completion of the quarter-finals. They are not carried forward to the semi-finals."

That led to many thinking Partey would escape a ban, but because he picked up the third yellow before the conclusion of the quarter-final, it is not wiped out and he will therefore miss the first leg against PSG on Tuesday night.

That same rule, however, stops four Arsenal players from walking a tightrope to potentially miss the second leg of the semi-final and even the final, should they get there.

Declan Rice was on two yellow cards heading into the second leg against Los Blancos and managed to avoid a third, getting visibly frustrated with Partey after his needless booking for a coming together with Dani Ceballos late on.

Gabriel Martinelli and Jurrien Timber were also walking tightropes in the quarter-final second leg, but came through unscathed. Goalkeeper David Raya did pick up a second booking for the tournament against Madrid in the second leg, but that was wiped out after the final whistle.

Then only way any Arsenal player will miss the second leg or the final now would be through injury or through a red card in either of the matches with PSG.

Arsenal face PSG in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final on April 29 and fans can watch it free with an Amazon Prime subscription or by signing up for a 30-day free trial.

- Lee Wilmot

GABRIEL JESUS' DAUGHTER IS A TRUE ARSENAL FAN HEART ❤️

ARSENAL CONFIRM KAI HAVERTZ'S DEVASTATING HAMSTRING INJURY AND REVEAL HOW LONG HE IS EXPECTED TO BE OUT

•  Arsenal have confirmed that Kai Havertz will need surgery on his hamstring  

• The German international suffered a hamstring injury during their trip to Dubai 

• LISTEN NOW: It's All Kicking Off! Will Liverpool recover from Everton blow in season-defining week? 

Arsenal have confirmed that Kai Havertz suffered a hamstring injury while training in Dubai - and the prognosis for his time on the sidelines is a major blow.  

Mail Sport exclusively revealed on Tuesday night that the Arsenal star had suffered the worrying hamstring injury scare while on club’s training tripin the United Arab Emirates. 

Well-placed sources indicated that the injury will result in Havertz spending a lengthy period on the sidelines.

Now the club have confirmed that Havertz will have surgery in the coming days befoe undergoing a recovery and rehabilitation programme which will extend into pre-season.

'Everyone at the club is fully focused on supporting Kai to ensure he is back to full fitness as soon as possible,' the club said in a statement on its website.  

The news arrives as a crushing blow to Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, who is already without several attacking players with Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli all missing through injury.

Havertz is the club’s top scorer this season with 15 goals and his absence will hit their ambitions of overhauling Liverpool at the top of the table this season.

Arsenal were criticised for not adding an attacker to their ranks during the January window and the injury to Havertz will only serve to intensify the backlash.

Meanwhile, Arsenal have explored the option of Takehiro Tomiyasu undergoing surgery to cure his long-standing knee problem.

The Japan defender has played just six minutes of football this season, coming on as a late substitute in the Carabao Cup win over Southampton in October following a three month recovery from a knee injury that saw him miss the start of the season.

But he has not featured since that win over the Saints after suffering an injury setback.

Indeed, Mail Sport understands there is emerging concern for Tomiyasu’s long-term fitness with club medics believed to have given serious consideration to the option of an operation for their versatile defender.

It is unclear whether a final decision on surgery has been made - but it has been an option discussed at the club’s London Colney HQ.

A new operation would require a lengthy rehabilitation programme and likely rule Tomiyasu out for a significant period of time.

In 2023, Tomiyasu underwent his first knee operation which kept the 26-year-old out of action for three months.

With that in mind, a second procedure on the joint would arrive as a blow to Tomiyasu, whose time at Arsenal has been beset by injury issues.

Speaking last month head coach Mikel Arteta provided a positive update on Tomiyasu’s fitness saying: ‘Tomi has done some stuff on the pitch, but now because it’s been a long-term injury, we need to see how quickly he can progress and how he reacts.’

But there is now some pessimism regarding Tomiyasu’s fitness amplified by the discussions over a potential operation.

The imminent return to fitness of Ben White will help to soften the blow of Tomiyasu’s ongoing unavailability.

White, who himself underwent knee surgery in November, is set to return and could be named in the squad to face Leicester this weekend.

- LUKE POWER and SAMI MOKBEL

MIKEL ARTETA SENDS OUT THINLY-VEILED TRANSFER PLEA AS ARSENAL BOSS ADMITS GUNNERS LACK 'GOALS'

•  Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus are both currently out with long-term injuries

• The Gunners' form has stumbled in recent weeks and are out of the FA Cup

• LISTEN NOW: It's All Kicking Off! Why the Arsenal players will be laughing at Mikel Arteta behind his back 

A frustrated Mikel Arteta admitted his Arsenal side lacks ‘goals and options’ in a thinly-veiled plea to the ownership for signings in the January transfer window.

The north London club has long been linked to a number of strikers, with those calls intensifying this month over mixed performances and the injuries to Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus.

The highly-influential Saka is not expected to be back until late March and Jesus is out for months.

That adds to the Gunners’s 2-0 defeat to Newcastle in the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg and crashing out of the FA Cup third round on penalties to Manchester United earlier this month.

Ahead of Arsenal’s Premier League match against Wolves on Saturday, Arteta said: ‘My opinion is clear. We lost two very important players in Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus. We lack goals, we lack people and we lack options. It’s clear.

‘If we can get the right player, that’s why we are actively looking at it (the market). Any player? No. Someone who makes us better. Ideally we need some help because we were very short already, and we’re even shorter now, but the team copes with that.

Arteta confirmed that both Myles Lewis-Skelly and William Saliba could play on Saturday, but will definitely be available next week.

Lewis-Skelly picked up a minor knee injury in the 2-2 draw against Aston Villa last weekend, while Saliba sustained a hamstring issue against Tottenham earlier in the month.

Ben White is still not available.

‘With Myles there is nothing serious with the scan, so it’ll be a matter of today’s meeting with the medical staff and our training session,’ he added.

‘We’ll see whether it’s too early or not.

‘With Willy (Saliba), it’s something similar as well. I think he’ll definitely be in for next week, but for this week let’s see how it goes.’

- ISAAN KHAN

MIKEL ARTETA CONFIRMS ARSENAL COULD ACCELERATE STRIKER TRANSFER PLANS AFTER DOUBLE INJURY BLOW

Mikel Arteta wants Bukayo Saka to take a break (Jonathan Brady/PA)
 

Mikel Arteta says Arsenal are open to bringing forward their summer transfer plans in the wake of injuries to Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus.

The Gunners have been left short in attack following injuries to the pair, with Jesus not expected back this season.

Saka, who tore his hamstring last month, has undergone surgery and is not due back until March at the earliest.

Manager Arteta has spoken of the need to recruit in attack and he has now revealed how Arsenal are ready to “adapt” their transfer plans.

Arsenal were looking to sign a forward this summer, but those plans could be brought forward to this month.

“We never just plan ‘a window’,” said Arteta. “We have a plan, we look at the squad, how we are going to evolve it, what we have in the academy, how we are going to change and adapt.

 “From there, what you plan and the picture that we have… either we are really bad at planning or nobody could see we would have that many injuries. You have to adapt whatever the plan is.”

Arsenal are admirers of RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko and they pursued a deal for him last summer.

Sesko opted to stay put at Leipzig, as he believed it was better for his development, and he signed a new contract.

The 21-year-old is still expected to leave Leipzig this year, although most likely in the summer and not during the current transfer window.

Arsenal are light in attack and they are going into Saturday’s game against Aston Villa with just four fit forwards.

“We have lost two massive players for us in the front line and we need some support there,” said Arteta.

“Obviously we have more necessity now because of what happened in the last few weeks. That's obvious.

“I think it’s more a question for [interim sporting director] Jason [Ayto]. I don’t know, but I think we have to do what we think is right and we can do as well. And that’s it.

“It’s clear that we would like to improve the squad, especially with what happened. Can we do it or not depends on other factors.”

- Simon Collings

 

GABRIEL JESUS IS BACK | 5 GOALS IN TWO GAMES 🔥

 

JESUS, ZINCHENKO ARE PLAYING FOR THEIR FUTURES AT ARSENAL

LONDON -- When Arsenal signed Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko from Manchester City in the summer of 2022, the pair provided a genuine improvement in quality and mentality to a promising young side.

As the Gunners eased their way past AS Monaco 3-0 at Emirates Stadium on Wednesday night in the UEFA Champions League, it was tempting to conclude that Mikel Arteta's side are close to leaving both behind.

Part of that is the individual regression both Jesus and Zinchenko have seemingly suffered but also the establishment of a fresh pedigree in Europe's biggest competitions led by others -- most obviously on a night like this, Bukayo Saka.

Saka's brace settled a contest that felt in the balance for much longer than it should have, not least because of Jesus' first-half profligacy. Twice he raced through on goal, twice his effort lacked conviction and Monaco goalkeeper Radoslaw Majecki saved. The flip side is Jesus deserves credit for laying on Saka's opening 34th-minute goal with a clever run and cross which the England international steered home at the back post but he left the field on 73 minutes without a goal to his name, extending a frankly dismal record to just one from his last 32 matches.

Jesus and Zinchenko possess a wealth of experience in this competition but his replacement here was Kai Havertz, a 2021 Champions League winner with Chelsea and whose impact was keenly felt: the German's high press forced an error which Saka capitalised on for Arsenal's second before Thilo Kehrer, again under pressure from Havertz, turned the ball into his own net from Saka's cross.

And so, where players like Jesus and Zinchenko -- injured once again here -- would have been expected to help navigate the emotional complexities of a challenging night against smart European opposition, Jesus instead resembled more of a passenger as Saka came to the fore.

"He keeps surprising us," said Arteta of Saka.

"That's what he wants to do. That's the quality that he has, that's the ambition that he has and how he's preparing himself every day. I'm not surprised, but it's very difficult to do what he's doing.

"That has been an evolution. He wasn't able to do that at 17, 18 or 19. But he has developed in the right way, mentally, physically, his condition, and his preparation, now he has got the habit of playing every three days and he is consistently doing that at the highest level.

"He will continue to do that and for the youngest players, for the old ones, and for all of us he is a great example because of how he behaves daily and because of what he wants to do, which is to have his best version every day, and continue to improve and that's it."

Gabriel Jesus helped set up Bukayo Saka for Arsenal's first goal as the Gunners defeated AS Monaco 3-0 in the UEFA Champions League. (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

Saka's consistency at the highest level is worthy of reiteration. Only Mohamed Salah (16 goals, 12 assists) has registered more goal involvements among Premier League players this season than Saka's nine goals and 12 assists.

He moves on to eight Champions League goals, which may still feel a modest tally but it steers him past club legend Dennis Bergkamp and Mesut Özil, whose £42.4 million arrival from Real Madrid in 2013 was also expected to herald the dawn of a new era.

Zinchenko's absence deepened Arsenal's defensive issues with Riccardo Calafiori, Ben White, Gabriel Magalhães and Takehiro Tomiyasu all out and, instead of turning to the experience of Kieran Tierney, Arteta opted to make Myles Lewis-Skelly the youngest Arsenal player to start a game in this competition since Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in 2011.

It was only the 18-year-old's seventh senior appearance and the maturity he showed for 64 minutes here only further complicates Zinchenko's route back to the first team.

Lewis-Skelly's smart play helped release Jesus for Arsenal's first goal and although Arteta felt compelled to introduce Jurriën Timber as Monaco began to threaten down his flank, the Hale End academy graduate staked a strong claim for further inclusion, completing 45 out of 47 passes.

"He's one of our own, 18-years-old and he makes his debut starting in the Champions League," said Arteta.

"It's just a joy to watch him and a privilege to give a chance to somebody to start to change his career. He certainly took the chance. It's great that we can trust him and that he can play in this environment with this level."

Arsenal's profligacy -- Gabriel Martinelli and Martin Ødegaard were also culpable -- could have cost them on another night and Arteta added: "We should have scored four or five in the first half. It wasn't the case.

"We can teach [the players], and sometimes we have to take a step back. [Finishing chances] is a decision they have to take. They cannot be thinking what they have to do and what we have to tell them. We try to give them the right information and the tools. After that, it is their execution and it is a difficult thing to do in football, but we have a lot of talent."

While Zinchenko could potentially depart if a suitable offer arises, Arteta has ruled out the possibility of moving Jesus on in the January transfer window. But it is no secret that Arsenal want to strengthen their forward line next year and any funds raised through player sales will be welcome.

The Gunners are more likely to wait for the bigger opportunities the summer window represents, and so Jesus may have more chances to prove he is part of Arsenal's present and not their past. He needs to take one soon.

- James Olley, Senior Writer, ESPN FC

PREMIER LEAGUE AUDIO OUT | MANCHESTER CITY VS. ARSENAL

 

ARSENAL AWAIT SCAN RESULTS ON GABRIEL JESUS GROIN INJURY

Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus is set to undergo an MRI scan on a groin injury amid fears the Brazil striker could be set for a spell on the sidelines.

Jesus missed Saturday's 2-0 win at Aston Villa and will be assessed in the coming days with Arsenal next in action against Brighton on Saturday."Unfortunately on Thursday in the training session, just at the end he felt something in his groin," Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta told a news conference.

"We'll need to assess him. We need to have an MRI scan to see, but he wasn't available for the game. We have to see [if it is a long-term injury].

"Probably tomorrow or Monday we'll have the results to see if it's a matter of days or weeks. We don't know."

The outcome of Jesus' scan could yet have an impact on whether Eddie Nketiah is allowed to join Nottingham Forest this month.

Sources have told ESPN that the Gunners are on the brink of finalising a deal with Forest worth around £30 million ($39m) plus bonuses but when asked whether Jesus' injury could impact Nketiah's future, Arteta said: "At the moment, Eddie is our player. He's very committed to us. Regardless of the noise, he's here and he wants to be here with us. He's really happy that we won the game."

Arsenal won a hard-fought game at Villa Park thanks to second-half goals from Leandro Trossard and Thomas Partey, both coming after a stunning stop from David Raya to deny Ollie Watkins.

"When we had to rely on certain individuals we did, like the situation of David that is an unbelievable save," Arteta said.

"When we made the changes, the impact they had was tremendous. When the team starts to be equipped that way and starts to be able to navigate through different contexts in the match, it becomes a team that can win in every place. Today we showed that."

- James Olley, Senior Writer, ESPN FC

ARSENAL THRASH BAYER LEVERKUSEN AS XHAKA MAKES EMIRATES RETURN

Gabriel Jesus was among the scorers in Arsenal's preseason win over Bayer Leverkusen.

Marc Atkins/Getty Images

Arsenal cruised to a 4-1 win over Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday as they ramped up their preparations for the new season.

Oleksandr Zinchenko, Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Jesus all found the net in the first half for Mikel Arteta's side. Kai Havertz then added a fourth after half-time in a preseason friendly that saw former Arsenal captain Granit Xhaka make his return to the club.

Xhaka, who spent seven seasons at Arsenal before departing for Leverkusen last summer, was greeted with a "welcome back" message on the big screen ahead of kickoff. 

Arsenal went in front after less than eight minutes. At the end of a fine team move, Havertz cut the ball back to the edge of the area where Zinchenko dispatched a first-time left-footed shot into the bottom corner of the net.

There was more to admire about Arsenal's play that led to the hosts doubling their lead just a minute later. After Arsenal won the ball back deep in Leverkusen's half, Martin Ødegaard, Jesus and Havertz were all involved in a series of quick passes before Trossard coolly took a touch beyond a defender and finished low from the centre of the box.

Jesus, starting as the No. 9, made it 3-0 seven minutes before half-time, dribbling past a defender and then squeezing a shot past the dive of Leverkusen goalkeeper Matej Kovar from 20 yards out.

Jesus was withdrawn at half-time but earned praise from his manager.

"I said from day one, the first feeling when I saw him after talking to him at the end of the season is that he was something different," Arteta said of Jesus in his post-match news conference. "I could sense it. His energy was different, the way he looks is different, the way he's moving is different. He really wants it.

"Now it's about finding that consistency and doing it in any context, against any opponent, against any formation, any day, every three days, for 90 minutes, for 30 minutes, for 70 minutes. If you are produce in those circumstances? It looks good."

Arteta made four changes at half-time with England internationals Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice among those to enter the action. It didn't take long for Saka to make his mark, delivering a low cross that was cleared right into the path of Havertz to finish from close range in the 65th minute.

Leverkusen substitute Adam Hlozek pulled a goal back in the 76th minute but it was little more than a consolation.

"We can take a lot of positives from the game as well as the result," Arteta said. "The way we performed, there were lots of positive aspects, collectively and individually. 

"A lot of things to learn from it as well. I think we can improve, especially in the second half when we made seven changes. But again, a really good test, a really good team who are really well coached and it was a good performance."

While there was no involvement for Italy defender Riccardo Calafiori following his transfer from Bologna last week, Arteta said he hopes to hand him some minutes when  Arsenal complete their preparations for the new season with another home friendly, against Lyon on Sunday.

Their Premier League campaign kick off at home to Wolves on Aug. 17.

Leverkusen, who completed an unbeaten domestic season in 2023-24, will compete for their first silverware of the new campaign in 10 days' time against VfB Stuttgart in the DFL-Supercup.

Game Information

Emirates Stadium

8:00 PM, August 7, 2024

London, England

Over/Under: 3.5

Attendance: 50,000

Referees: Samuel Barrott

- ESPN 

ARSENAL FORWARD WON'T LEAVE THIS SUMMER - ARTETA

Gabriel Jesus joined Arsenal in 2022 from Manchester City. David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said on Friday the club have no intention of allowing striker Gabriel Jesus to leave the club this summer.

Reports earlier this week suggested that Arsenal would be willing to listen to offers for the 27-year-old, who will have three years remaining on his contract at the end of the season.

Jesus has scored eight goals in 33 appearances this season playing primarily as a striker but also out wide.

The Brazil international has struggled with knee problems since undergoing surgery for an injury sustained at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. He underwent a second minor operation in January and admitted last month he couldn't "remember the last day I played football without pain."

Kai Havertz has assumed a key role in leading Arsenal's attack at the expense of Jesus of late but when asked on Friday about speculation the Brazil international could leave the club, Arteta said: "I don't know where this is coming from."

Sources have told ESPN that Arsenal are prepared to sell several fringe players to help boost their summer transfer budget.

Pushed on whether he had any intention of letting Jesus, who joined Arsenal from Manchester City for £45 million ($56.5m) in 2022, move on at the end of the campaign, Arteta replied: "No, no."

Arteta stated his hope that Jorginho would soon agree a new deal as talks continue over an extension.

The 32-year-old's contract expires at the end of the season and the Italy international is thought to be keen on staying at the club he joined from Chelsea for £12 million in January last year.

"I would love to keep him,"Arteta said. "He knows that. The club is fully supportive of that. He's a really important player with us, on and off the field. He makes us better so we want him to stay."

Arteta has a fully fit squad to choose from ahead of Saturday's visit of Bournemouth and the Arsenal boss is weighing up whether to include Jurriën Timber after two appearances for Arsenal under-21s having been sidelined since August following knee surgery.

"We won't know [if Timber is ready] until we throw him in there," Arteta added.

"It's tricky because there are only three games to go and he has missed eight months of football, he's played only 150 minutes of football with the U21s, it's a question that can only be resolved by throwing him on the pitch and we will see what happens, we have to try to nail that decision when [we take it]."

- James Olley, Senior Writer, ESPN FC

PLAYERS ON LONG TERM DEALS | ARSENAL

GABRIEL JESUS OUT VS. LIVERPOOL

Gabriel Jesus’ knee injury is being described as ‘not serious’ — just knock after the blow he suffered months ago.

The expectation is for Gabriel to be out just for short time for precaution, set to r