Chris Sutton has praised Gabriel Jesus for the ‘often criticised’ Arsenal striker scored a ‘brilliant’ goal at home to RC Lens in their Champions League fixture on Wednesday.
The Gunners turned up their style to stun Les Sang et Or at Emirates Stadium with four goals in just the first 27 minutes. Jesus (21’) stretched Arsenal’s advantage after Kai Havertz (13’) broke the deadlock. Bukayo Saka (23’) and Gabriel Martinelli (27’) then got in on the scoring.
Jesus has been in fine form in the Champions League so far this term. The 26-year-old has scored in all four of his matches, having also hit home against PSV Eindhoven, at Lens and at Sevilla. Arsenal were without the Brazilian at home to Sevilla as he recovered from an injury.
Jesus returned to domestic action following his hamstring injury as Havertz emerged as their hero at Brentford last Saturday. He missed the Gunners’ prior three Premier League matches and their second Champions League tie with Sevilla. It was his second injury this term, too.
Arsenal started this season without Jesus as he recovered from knee surgery after reporting some discomfort late in the summer. But the 64-cap Brazil striker showed Mikel Arteta what the Gunners boss was missing with his composed late strike at home to Manchester United.
Yet his stoppage-time strike to pip the Red Devils 3-1 in September remains Jesus’ sole top-flight goal this term. He has failed to build on the effort while reaching eight appearances for 429 minutes and five starts. But the Sao Paulo native has been a consistent threat in Europe.
Sutton praises Jesus after his ‘brilliant’ Champions League goal
Jesus has often delivered in the Champions League throughout the Arsenal ace’s career thus far. He left Manchester City for Emirates Stadium in a £45m move in July 2022 with 20 goals in 38 matches. The attacker further offered the Citizens five assists across his appearances.
Arsenal now relish what Jesus gives at the top of Arteta’s attack and his goal against Lens on Wednesday impressed Sutton. The Celtic hero praised the Brazilian after doubling their lead with a low drive into the bottom corner of the goal after Saka poked the ball into the striker.
“It’s a brilliant finish from Jesus, it really is,” Sutton declared on BBC Radio 5 Live. “He’s often criticised for his finishing.”