Mikel Arteta is confident Gabriel Jesus will produce his best football now he has regular Premier League starts.
The Brazilian joined Arsenal this summer, bringing an end to his time at Manchester City, and he has wasted no time in settling in to his new surroundings.
After a stellar pre-season, Jesus has maintained that form and scored twice, assisting another two as well, in Arsenal’s 4-2 win over Leicester.
Arteta believes the platform for Jesus to be the main man at the Emirates is what was so appealing for the striker when considering his options earlier in the summer.
“That’s what he needed,” the Arsenal boss told Sky Sports. “Obviously he’s played a lot of games in this league in the last few years but not that many as a starter, especially in the last two years.
“He really wants to feel like the player that can make the difference for the team and that’s the next stage.”
Jesus has already been given a leadership role at Arsenal, appointed as a vice-captain along with Granit Xhaka to support new skipper Martin Odegaard.
Arteta worked with Jesus when the pair were at City and it’s clear how much he values what the Brazilian can bring to the club both on and off the pitch.
“Obviously we know how he is as a player and what he was going to bring,” Arteta said.
“He’s won everything in the last few years, he knows the standards, what it takes to win.
“Obviously we had to change his role and what he had to do in this football club and now he’s one of the leaders. He’s a natural leader, but he’s also somebody that is prepared and I think is in a stage of his career where he’s able to do what we are demanding him to do.”
