Gabriel Jesus says he can’t remember the last time he played football without pain.
Speaking ahead of Arsenal’s Champions League quarter-final first leg against Bayern Munich, Jesus added that it is “unfair” to compare him to strikers like Harry Kane and Erling Haaland despite his role as a striker often differs from that of a more traditional center forward. .
Most of the Brazil international’s appearances for Arsenal this season have been as a number 9, but he has also been used on the wings by Mikel Arteta.
He has been played on the left in their last two matches, with Kai Havertz up front, as well as earlier in the season when Eddie Nketiah led the line. The 27-year-old also played as a right winger in the 1-0 win over Manchester City in October – a role he has often played for the club at the Etihad Stadium.
“I don’t want to come here and say Gabi doesn’t care about playing as a winger when his position is normally a nine,” he said. “In this part of the season, we are not complaining. I never complain. When I get the chance, I will show the manager and everyone why I have to play.
“This part of the season I’m going to put my ego aside and do what the manager wants to help the team. It’s not easy, not just for me but for Eddie as well. Kai makes incredible plays and scores. That’s the price you have to pay if you want to be at a big club.
Wherever it is performed, Jesus insists that context be provided in discussions about it. Kane and Haaland are topics surrounding him as he will face the former in the Champions League on Tuesday and the latter replaced him at Manchester City.
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Kane has scored 38 goals for Bayern this season, while Haaland has scored 82 in 89 games since signing for City. Although Kane tends to drop more into midfield to provide for his wingers, both are much more of a presence in the box than Jesus who naturally drifts across the pitch.
“Even though I play in a position like that, I think it’s unfair because we are different types of players,” added Jesus. ” It’s my opinion. I played this season about 40 percent on the wing, but people only want to know the result and whether I scored or not. This is football today. It’s not just me, but it’s the case for a lot of attackers. I will never complain when someone asks me what I think.
Jesus’ fitness has also been an issue for Arsenal since his arrival from City in the summer of 2022. He was a game-changer for Arsenal at the start of the 2022-23 campaign, but has suffered from injuries since suffering an absence of three months. knee problem during the 2022 World Cup with Brazil.
Jesus has had three long absences this season (two knees and a hamstring) which resulted in a stop-start campaign.
“I’m just trying to get fit and help Arsenal as much as I can,” Jesus said. “Unfortunately I had some problems this season and I hope next season I won’t have any.
“Sometimes I feel it (knee pain) but I can’t remember the last day I played football without pain so I can’t complain. I just try to recover well and that’s it. Mentally I try to stay strong in my mind and that’s it.
Jesus’ recent return to fitness is one of many for Arteta in recent times. The return of Takehiro Tomiyasu, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Fabio Vieira and Thomas Partey has significantly strengthened his bench, and now Jurrien Timber is the only player not ready for minutes. His availability is an added asset for Arsenal, one of the few players in this young team with Champions League round of 16 experience and an impressive tally of 24 goals and seven assists in 44 appearances in the competition.
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(Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)