Jesus cracks treble — but Gunners still want more!
GABRIEL JESUS scored a hat-trick on his home debut to bring his pre-season tally to seven goals before Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta declared, ‘we want more.’
The Brazil striker, who signed from Manchester City for £45million, stole the show from fellow debutants Oleksandr Zinchenko and France defender William Saliba, as well as newly appointed captain Martin Odegaard.
But Arteta insisted he wants to add more firepower to his squad ahead of Friday night’s opening match away to Crystal Palace.
Asked if he was satisfied with his attacking options and summer spending of £117m, the Spaniard answered: ‘We are still hoping to do something else if the market allows us to do that.
‘We have seen some movement in the other direction too. We just want to get the perfect balance and to implement the plan we wanted from the beginning (of the transfer window).
‘Whether or not we can I do not know, but I am happy with what we have done so far.’
Arteta was also delighted yesterday to discuss his appointment of former Real Madrid midfielder Odegaard as the permanent replacement for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang as skipper.
The Norwegian, 23, shared the captain’s armband with Alex Lacazette after the Gabonese striker was sacked and sold to Barcelona last January.
‘I am proud to make this announcement as I think he is a really good person to deliver commitment to the club,’ Arteta said.
‘Since he has been here for 18 months he has represented the values of this football club in the best possible way. He has desire and ambition to take this club to a different level.
‘His desire to contribute, to push this team and way he is respected by everyone inside this organisation is clear to see.
‘He is the captain of his national team and I just thought it was the right call.’
Arteta also confirmed he has allowed Portuguese left-back Nuno Tavares to sign on a season-long loan with French side Marseille amid reports defender Hector Bellerin is set to rejoin Real Betis.
He would not confirm Bellerin’s departure but said: ‘We don’t know — we go case by case. For Nuno’s development the move will be really important.’
And although every touch of defender Saliba’s clean sheet home debut was cheered by a capacity 60,000 crowd for this Emirates Cup match, it was the goals from Jesus that had home fans making noise. His seven goals have helped ensure five wins from five pre-season matches since his switch from City.
‘You hope someone will hit the ground running but they have to adapt to so much joining a new club, new city, new team-mates,’ Arteta said.
‘He has done it in a fast and natural way. The other players look for him on and off the ball and he has connected in a really fast and natural way. I am really happy with him.’
Bukayo Saka netted twice and sub Eddie Nketiah was also on the score sheet after Jesus linked up with Odegaard as he scored his goals in the 13th, 15th and 77th minutes.
Arteta concluded: ‘Martin makes Gaby better and he needs threat in front of him. He can find that final pass at any moment in close or open spaces. I think the connection is already there.’