Gabriel Jesus makes shock claim ahead of Brentford after injury return with Brazil
Gabriel Jesus has addressed his struggles in scoring goals for Brazil following his comeback from injury during the national team’s 1-0 loss to Argentina.
The 26-year-old, who had been sidelined for a month due to a hamstring injury sustained while playing for Arsenal in the Champions League, had not participated in any training sessions before joining the Brazil squad for the November international break.
This led to frustration from Arsenal fans, who criticized Brazil for selecting an injured player.
However, interim head coach Fernando Diniz clarified his decision and outlined the well-thought-out plan behind it.
“I talked to Gabriel and he didn’t come here without planning,” he admitted in a press conference earlier this month.
“He said he’s feeling good, he’s already doing certain things, and when I spoke to him we had two more weeks, 10 days at least till the first game [against Colombia] and 15 days ’til the second one [against Argentina].
“He is in good condition, we are doing things with great care. As soon as he arrived we made a new MRI we [are] treating him very carefully.”
The recent match against Colombia was too early for Jesus, but he was expected to play a significant role against Argentina, especially after Vinicius Jr. got injured.
Despite this, Jesus ended up starting and completing the entire game, making him eligible for selection in the upcoming match against Brentford.
The night, however, descended into chaos with unpleasant incidents involving fans from Argentina and Brazil, leading to police intervention.
After the match, Jesus, who had faced criticism for his goal-scoring struggles with Brazil, was questioned about these issues, and his response was resolute, including a surprising assertion.
“There are things that bothered me a lot in the post 2018 World Cup cycle,” he said via Sport Witness.
“I was younger, I had a different mind. Today I am a more mature man, more educated, a family man. I understand football is a priority for me, and I know I need to be well to do my best, especially in the Brazilian team.
“There are things that I don’t control. I train, I look for, I try, I move, I help the team. The goal is inevitable. I believe it’s not my strong point, but I score goals and I’m there to score goal. When I come back, it will happen. It’s work. I work quietly, I’m not one to respond to criticism, I’m not one to be happy for praise. I was, I won’t be anymore.”
Mikel Arteta is expected to depend on Jesus for goals upon his return to the club, which may not be the ideal scenario for the Arsenal boss.
Despite this, Jesus has managed to score 15 goals in 44 games across all competitions since joining last summer, showcasing a valuable ability to link up play that is crucial for Arteta and Arsenal.
This particular skill is likely to be on display once again in the upcoming match against Brentford.
Gabriel Jesus makes shock claim ahead of Brentford after injury return with Brazil