Gabriel Jesus has been told he is not of the same calibre as fellow north London forward Harry Kane as the Brazilian settles into life as Arsenal's main man.
The 25-year-old was officially unveiled by the Gunners earlier this week after a lengthy transfer saga was finally completed after Arsenal forked out £45million to secure Mikel Arteta's reunion with a player he is incredibly familiar with. The pair spent plenty of time together when the current Arsenal boss was operating as an assistant coach to Pep Guardiola.
Jesus had just one year left to run on his City contract which has led to some fans and pundits alike questioning the fee Arsenal eventually paid, but it is clear Arteta feels the ex-Etihad fan favourite is the forward Arsenal have long been waiting for.
Despite this, Liverpool legend and former Sky Sports pundit Phil Thompson questioned whether Jesus can be entrusted to fire Arsenal back into the top-four and end their six-year hiatus from the Champions League.
Speaking to Paddy Power, Thompson pondered: "Is Gabriel Jesus going to get the number of goals that Arsenal want? I'm not so sure. But, when you're looking at the high-end goal scorers in the Premier League, Harry Kane, Mohamed Salah… Jesus is not quite there."
He did go on to concede that the previous relationship between Jesus and Arteta could come in handy for Arsenal next term. "He's had 159 games for Manchester City with 58 goals which is not a bad return," the Anfield hero admitted.
HAVE YOUR SAY! Will Gabriel Jesus enjoy a stellar debut season at Arsenal? Comment below
"It's not a massive return. But I think with Mikel Arteta knowing him, understanding Jesus and Jesus understanding Mikel Arteta, it could work.
"I think Arteta wants more energy in that front line, I think he wants people who understand the high press. Jesus has come through that Man City set up and I think he will add a lot besides his goals."
Jesus and Kane undeniably differ in terms of playing styles and the latter is one of the most lethal marksman on the continent, let alone the Premier League. It would be some feat for Jesus to outscore a three-time Golden Boot winner in his first campaign at a new club.
Thompson specifically mentioned that individual accolade when doubling down on his view that Kane remains the superior striker in north London.
"I don't think he's going to be competing with Kane, Son Heung-min, Salah, Erling Haaland, people like that, for the golden boot. But he's going to get a few, I'd expect him to get between 12 and 15 Premier League goals," he added.
Considering Jesus arrives knowing his predecessor to the number nine shirt in Alexandre Lacazette scored a feeble four league goals all season last time out, anywhere between 12 and 15 goals would mark a drastic improvement in Arsenal's attacking output.
