Jesus dazzles but Arsenal’s transfer priority remains clear after Sevilla win

Gabriel Jesus dazzled in Seville for Arsenal with a goal and an assist performance but owner Stan Kroenke’s transfer priority in January remains clear if the Gunners want to remain in the hunt for silverware: Add variety to the striker department. The Brazilian, 26, who joined Arsenal last summer from Premier League title rivals Manchester City in a £44.7million transfer, helped the Gunners open the scoring with an exquisite turn before playing compatriot Gabriel Martinelli through on goal, leading to the rounding of Sevilla goalkeeper Orjan Nyland.

The multi-purpose attacker then doubled Arsenal’s lead shortly after the restart to the second half, cutting inside off the left-hand side onto his favored right foot before finding the top right corner. Jesus’ stunner, though, awoke the 2023 Europa League winners, who swiftly halved the deficit with Nemanja Gudelj heading home and highlighted Arsenal’s need for an alternative striker to the Brazilian.

Someone with the ability to relieve the Gunners of pressure, giving Mikel Arteta’s men a reliable No. 9 who they can pick out while going long and can be trusted to help bring his team up the pitch to launch an effective counterattack or pose a different kind of threat to teams happy to sit off and defend their 18-yard box. Kai Havertz has already proved since his move from Chelsea in the summer that he is not that man, with questions still unanswered as to where his future lies: In midfield or attack?

Eddie Nketiah, despite being recognized by England’s senior team for his efforts in the past year covering for the injured Jesus, also hasn’t proven consistently reliable for the Gunners. This could be one of the main reasons why Arsenal fell agonizingly short in their title race with City last year and could do so again this year too.

City has a perfect blend in the striker department with Erling Haaland and Julian Alvarez. Haaland, a freakishly big, strong, and fast No. 9 capable of running in behind and occupying defenses, while also punishing them in high volume despite very little touches, and Alvarez, who operates in a similar manner to the man he replaced at the Etihad, Jesus. Alvarez has, in fact, bailed City and Haaland out on occasions this year when some Premier League defenses got to grips with one of the 2023 Ballon d’Or’s frontrunners.

Arsenal’s need for the “right forward” was not only evident against Sevilla but also against rivals Chelsea and Tottenham, with both games ending in draws. In the away trip to Lens in the Champions League too, which ended in a defeat.

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The Gunners’ net spend is among the highest in world football but if the Kroenkes are to clinch some of the best honors Club football has to offer, their pockets will have to go deeper, and sooner rather than later. January presents an opportunity for the Gunners.

Ivan Toney or Ollie Watkins will prove costly whether it’s halfway through the season at its end in the summer but the price could be stomachable in pursuit of gold. Serhou Guirassy could be a cheaper and available answer, with the Stuttgart striker having a reported £17.3m release clause. The 27-year-old has scored an astonishing 14 goals in eight games in the Bundesliga, outscoring Arsenal’s long-time menace, Harry Kane. Napoli’s Victor Osimhen has long been tracked by Chelsea and incidents on the Serie A champions’ social media could potentially see the Nigerian look to leave Italy in search of a new challenge.

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