Arsenal (4/6 – Top 6 Premier League finish) have finally signed striker Gabriel Jesus from Manchester City in a £45million deal and the Brazilian says his mind has been made up about joining the Gunners for some time.
Jesus has been reunited with Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta, who worked with the 25-year-old when he was assistant at City, and the forward is excited about what the future holds at the Emirates.
The deal has taken a few weeks to complete and, despite also being linked with Tottenham earlier in the summer, Jesus says he was always keen to move to the Gunners and cannot wait to get started at his new club.
He told the Arsenal website: “I followed Arsenal when I was young because of Thierry Henry. Obviously I didn’t follow too many European teams, but when I saw some of the players that played here, I was like ‘wow, this club is big’.
“When I played against Arsenal I was looking at the Emirates and it was a very good stadium, so I’m very excited to play here.”
He added: “I’m so happy to sign for this big club. Since day one when I knew I could come to play for Arsenal, I was happy.
“I know the staff, I know some players, the Brazilian ones. I know there are a lot of top players. They are young and I’m still young as well, so I am so happy to be here to help. I come to help, to learn as well and to try to do my best.”
Arteta, meanwhile, says Jesus had been identified as a top transfer target for a “long time” and he is delighted with the capture of the centre-forward, who scored 95 goals and racked up 46 assists in 233 games for City since joining from Palmeiras in January 2017.
The Gunners boss said: “I know Gabriel personally very well, and we all know him well from his time in the Premier League and being really successful here.
“This is a position that’s been on our radar for a long time now and we have managed to get a player that we all wanted, so I’m really happy.”
Jesus helped City win four Premier League titles, four League Cups and one FA Cup during his five-and-a-half-year spell there and now will hope to inspire the North Londoners as they seek a return to the top four in the coming season.
Jesus is available at 20/1 to be the top goalscorer in the Premier League in 2022-23, while Arsenal are 4/1 with Betfred to be Top London club in the new campaign.
