The noise from Brazil: Jesus and Richarlison bring carnival to capital derby

The Premier League returns this weekend with a banger; a derby between hated rivals with the added frisson of pitting first against third, high-flying Arsenal against unbeaten Tottenham – the team who pipped them to the post of Champions League qualification last spring.

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But while north London bragging rights, local disputes and leadership of the domestic league are all on the line at the Emirates Stadium tomorrow lunchtime, it is two boys from Brazil – with their own personal score to settle – who look primed to play a crucial role.

Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus and Tottenham forward Richarlison arrived in the capital in the summer, the former a £45million signing from Manchester City, the long-dreamt-of focal point Gooners had been crying out for, the man who could replace the departed Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette and score the 20-plus goals a season Mikel Arteta’s men need to take them to the next level.

So far so very good. An increasingly frustrated figure when asked to play a supporting role almost throughout his five- and-a-half years at City, Jesus has positively blossomed after being cast as a central figure in Arteta’s youthful, attacking blueprint.

Nominally the central striker, the 26-year-old has popped up all over the forward line and proved no less effective, his contribution to Arsenal’s vibrant start worth even more than four goals and three assists from seven league games would suggest.

Given a home where he is wanted and a fanbase who make him feel loved, Arsenal’s new No.9 has gone from useful squad player at a perennial trophy winner to one of the league’s biggest stars at an emerging team. In short, he looks happy and he has every reason to.

‘I work all day, every day to score goals,’ Jesus explained after scoring twice in the 4-2 win over Leicester last month. ‘I was not unhappy at Manchester City, I just wanted to play.’

But the former Palmeiras youngster has brought more than goals from his time at the Etihad Stadium, as Arteta explained after the 3-0 win at Bournemouth.

‘We now have a new confidence, a spark, and that winning mentality that he has,’ he said.

If Jesus is straight out of Brazilian football central casting – all beaming smile and samba shuffle – Tottenham’s own summer signing from the Selecao has the kind of demeanour and approach more usually associated with Brazil’s south American rivals Uruguay or Argentina.

While Jesus plays with a grin never far from his face Richarlison, bought from Everton for £60m, approaches his football with a chip on both shoulders.

Determined, relentless, horrible to play against. If the 26-year-old former Watford and Toffees forward has ever smiled on a football pitch the cameramen have not dared to capture it. Put simply, he 
is the perfect Antonio Conte footballer.

Richarlison plays like he has something to prove which, at Tottenham, he does.

If Arsenal’s move for Jesus was as obvious as it was inspired, Spurs’ interest in Richarlison was a little less clear to explain.

Indeed, the player himself has claimed he could have been lining up in a red-and-white shirt in tomorrow’s showdown.

‘I know Chelsea made an offer, and I believe Arsenal also contacted Everton, but Spurs came in and paid the fee,’ he explained. ‘It’s as simple as that.’

Yet with Harry Kane and Heung-Min Son fabled institutions on the Tottenham High Road and January arrival Dejan Kulusevski having played a fundamental role in Spurs’ late season surge into the top four, their need for Richarlison was less obvious.

The 26-year-old arrived at Spurs as the depth man, the swing tackle, the spare part, the solution to the problem that doesn’t exist.

He was the kind of statement signing Conte demanded if his Spurs were to contend domestically and in Europe, but Richarlison was nevertheless not expected to be a regular starter.

Well, that concept lasted less than a month. While the Brazil international’s Premier League statistics – no goals and two assists so far – don’t compare to his compatriot over at Arsenal, Richarlison has struck two crucial goals in the Champions League and his performances – incrementally better each week – suggest if there is to be an odd man out in Tottenham’s attack, then most weeks it won’t be him.

Like his compatriot down the Seven Sisters Road, Richarlison has quickly endeared himself to supporters and team-mates alike and can be expected to be in the thick of the action tomorrow lunchtime. But for both players, international as well as club matters may provide a source of motivation.

While Jesus’ time at Manchester City has afforded him rewards Richarlison can only dream of – four league titles, an FA Cup, three League Cups and a Champions League final – the Tottenham man currently looks more likely to lead Brazil’s line into the World Cup later this year.

While Richarlison – whose ratio of 17 goals from 38 caps is better than Jesus’ record of 19 goals from 56 – was scoring twice in last week’s friendly with Ghana and on target again in Tuesday’s 5-1 win over Tunisia (a goal overshadowed by the racist abuse aimed at the player), Jesus was kicking his heels at home having been controversially left out of the squad by coach Tite.

Arteta has told his star man to accept the coach’s decision, get his head down and prove him wrong. It’s something the Arsenal striker – like Tottenham’s No.9 – has been doing his entire career.

It is the only way either of them know how. But tomorrow, only one of the boys from Brazil can come out on top.

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