Mikel Arteta says Arsenal star is ‘completely different player’ this season
'Now he's getting the reward. Sometimes it takes time.'
Mikel Arteta reserved special praise for Gabriel Jesus after Arsenal’s 5-1 victory over Crystal Palace and claimed the forward returned a ‘completely different player’ in the summer.
Just three days on from their Carabao Cup quarter-final victory over Palace, Arsenal once again got the better of their London rivals – and in some style, too.
An inspired Jesus picked up where he left off after his midweek hat-trick heroics, hitting the back of the net either side of Ismaila Sarr’s sublime strike in a frantic opening 15 minutes at Selhurst Park.
Kai Havertz gave Arsenal a two-goal buffer before the halfway stage and goals from Gabriel Martinelli and Declan Rice put the game to bed in the second period.
The result saw the Gunners leapfrog Nottingham Forest into third place in the Premier League table and Arteta was understandably delighted with Jesus’ return to form in front of goal.
‘It has to be [a turning point],’ the Arsenal head coach told reporters of Jesus’ display at his post-mach press conference.
‘We now have to push him and let him go and be behind him because he’s had some difficult moments and, as a striker, it’s not easy because you get a lot of the spotlight.
‘But credit to him and his work ethic. The way he came back in the summer, he was a completely different player and now he’s getting the reward. Sometimes it takes time.’
Arteta believes Jesus has set a ‘good example’ to the rest of Arsenal’s squad in ‘digging in’ when times are tough.
‘You have to prepare for your opportunity, that’s it,’ the Spaniard added.
‘You fail to prepare, when you have the chance it’s not going to happen. That’s clear.
‘So want it, you want it early, and sometimes it’s not going to happen. You have to dig in, go again, sometimes you don’t see the rewards.
‘It’s like looking in the mirror after one day in the gym or one week or one month. Sometimes it needs more time and suddenly everybody starts to tell you that you look different, much better, healthier and good things happen.
‘I think it’s a good example to understand what Gabi has done.’
The one major negative for Arsenal came midway through the first half as Bukayo Saka was forced off with a hamstring injury.
The England attacker appeared in some discomfort as he made his way off the field to be replaced by Leandro Trossard and he was seen leaving the stadium on crutches after the match.
‘He felt something in his hamstring,’ Arteta explained when asked for an update on Saka’s condition.
‘He could not continue, he had to be assessed. We are pretty worried.’
Speaking to TNT Sports shortly after the final whistle, Arteta said he was unsure about the severity of Saka’s problem.
Quizzed on the seriousness of Saka’s injury, the Spaniard replied: ‘I don'[t know but he had to come off.
‘It’s not good news, obviously. We will have to assess him and wait and see.’
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