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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Josh O'Brien

Gabriel Jesus breaks Brazilian record and poses nagging Arsenal transfer question

Since being linked heavily with a summer switch to Arsenal, Gabriel Jesus has been in scintillating form in front of goal for Manchester City.

The 25-year-old has five goals in his last two games after remarkably netting four against Watford last weekend before getting another when Real Madrid came to the Etihad on Tuesday night. The strike against Los Blancos also placed Jesus' name into the Champions League history books.

Sitting on 12 goals for the season across all competitions, four of those have come in European football's most elite competition. That tally does not even make Jesus the highest scoring Brazilian in the competition this season given Liverpool's Roberto Firmino currently sits on five.

However, Jesus' 11th minute goal against Real Madrid means his overall career tally for the Champions League now sits at 20 goals in 37 games. In turn, the Arsenal target now has the best average of minutes per goal of anyone who has made 10 or more appearances in the competition.

The former Palmeiras man has needed on average just 106 minutes between each strike in Europe, a significantly better rate than some of the biggest names Brazilian football has ever produced. Three of his 20 goals have come against Real Madrid, proving he is a man for the big occasion.

With that being said, it begs the question why City seem so willing to sanction his departure - he has been a dependable option for the club for five years now and has developed impressively since joining as a teenager in 2017.

Manchester City could live to regret allowing Gabriel Jesus to leave if he joins Arsenal (Offside via Getty Images)

HAVE YOUR SAY! Would City be making a mistake by letting Jesus leave to Arsenal? Comment below

Pep Guardiola's side are expected to break the bank for Borussia Dortmund sensation Erling Haaland in the summer, rendering Jesus' role little more than a bit-part player. The Brazilian spent many years acting as deputy for City icon Sergio Aguero and is unlikely to be willing to do the same for a striker four years his junior.

Haaland hardly has a clean bill of health over the last two seasons, which in turn could present another question mark for those making the decisions over at the Etihad. Allowing Jesus to leave could be a call that comes back to haunt them if Haaland arrives and struggles to find consistent fitness.

Jesus could be in two minds over a move to North London given there is every chance Arsenal will not be able to offer the Brazilian Champions League football next season. Mikel Arteta's men currently occupy the much-coveted fourth spot, but with a difficult run of fixtures inbound anything could happen.

Arteta's presence at the Emirates may present a positive in the eyes of Jesus given the pair are familiar with each other from the Arsenal manager's time at City as an assistant coach to Guardiola.

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