£40m offer accepted, Alexander Isak approach - Gabriel Jesus Arsenal transfer verdict given

Arsenal are set for a busy and important summer transfer window in a few months’ time, and a number of questions will need to be answered.

Mikel Arteta is widely tipped to search for an attacker with Eddie Nketiah possibly facing an exit, having failed to start a Premier League game in 2024. Nketiah’s sale would help with Financial Fair Play given he is an academy graduate and thus cost nothing.

Meanwhile, questions are being raised about the future of Gabriel Jesus. Just eight goals this season have been supported by his seven assists but Kai Havertz has matched his teammate's strike tally for the entire campaign in just his last 11 league outings.

Three separate injuries this season has left Arsenal without Jesus for 13 matches, including two against Liverpool and two in the Champions League. Now, a report from The Athletic says Arsenal are prepared to listen to offers for the 27-year-old, who still has three years left on his deal.

His 19 goals in 66 appearances since joining from Manchester City in 2022 have left a lot to be desired given Arsenal have taken part in title races across both seasons he’s been at the Emirates Stadium. Our writers have had their say on what Arteta should do with Jesus this summer.

Kaya Kaynak - Arsenal writer

Personally I’m struggling to even entertain the idea of selling Jesus. The Brazilian has had a transformative effect on Arsenal as a football club. Prior to his arrival the mentality of the squad was fighting for Champions League at best. Now they fully believe they can win the Premier League and Champions League.

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It’s not just that, but the work Jesus does for the team. Bukayo Saka has gone to another level since his arrival, and it’s no surprise that Gabriel Martinelli’s form has fallen off since his compatriot fell out of the team.

I will concede that you probably shouldn’t be relying on Jesus as your only centre forward option given his tendency to miss big chances and his injury record this season. Equally though, it’s up to Arteta and Edu to build a deeper squad around him to offset that.

Jesus always turns up in the big games and is one of the few in this squad with experience of actually winning big things. Selling him would take one of Arsenal’s biggest leaders and best players away. Unless you’re replacing him with someone better I can’t see the point of doing that.

Tom Canton - Arsenal writer

It is very much reliant upon the market when it comes to both selling and replacing Jesus. If an offer exists that would tempt the Gunners in for a sale it must be considered and they should certainly be looking for in excess of £40million to make it happen and try at the very minimum to get the money back they paid Man City only two years ago.

Jesus has just four league goals this season but provides great depth and coverage across multiple positions however with the need to upgrade on the forward line and with Nketiah also seemingly moving toward the exit door it highlights how thin Arsenal could become with just two departures – three if Reiss Nelson also left.

Arsenal need to ensure their squad can handle four competitions next season more effectively and the cup tournaments in particular need to have an increased focus. Without that major financial return though there is little need to sell Jesus which in some ways is a nice place for the club to be.

Do you think Arsenal should sell Gabriel Jesus? Leave a comment to join the debate!

Sam Truelove - Content Editor

Jesus was the marquee summer signing in 2022. The Brazilian arrived from Man City in a deal worth around £45million and started life in north London in sensational form.

His winning mentality, attacking quality and ability to bring the best out of others have helped turn Arsenal into genuine title contenders. Yet, despite all of this, there is talk Jesus could leave the Gunners this summer.

For me, this should not be allowed to happen. Granted, the 27-year-old is not a clinical front man (Jesus has scored 19 goals in 66 appearances for Arsenal) but he offers much more than goals. His pressing from the front and ability to create chances for teammates are all reasons why Arteta pushed so hard for his signature.

On top of this, Nketiah is also likely to leave this summer so it just doesn't make sense to move Jesus on. The Gunners are already in the market for a versatile forward but selling Jesus will mean a replacement needs to be signed. Ivan Toney, Viktor Gyokeres and Benjamin Sesko are all names who have been linked with the Gunners in recent months, but are they really better than Jesus? My belief is probably not.

Isaac Johnson - Central Audience Writer

It’d seem harsh and also a bit odd to sell Jesus if Eddie Nketiah is to be sold. The latter would reap pure profit given he is an academy product and Arsenal are unlikely to make anything on the £45m they paid for Jesus.

Besides, Arteta needs quality depth in numbers. The Brazilian has not been abysmal but has been underwhelming. He’s not going to win a team a title.

The Gunners are trying to bridge the gap with Man City and Jesus may find he is ultimately reverted to the role played at the Blues - a second choice striker who fills in when needed.

Havertz has enjoyed a fruitful run-in, with eight goals in his last 11 Premier League matches, which includes three in his last two. But it is still to be deciphered whether this a purple patch or a genuine prolonged upgrade in form.

It would seem remiss for Arteta not to buy a new striker this summer, be it a versatile attacker or a classic centre-forward. But that needn't mean Jesus is axed - unless a truly irresistible offer is tabled.

Amie Wilson - Central Audience Writer

As an outsider looking in, it would be confusing as to why Arsenal would sell Jesus this summer, unless they can get a big fee and a replacement in the door at the Emirates Stadium. Striker is one area where the Gunners will probably look to strengthen in the summer, especially given the uncertainty around Nketiah’s future.

While he has struggled with injuries this season, Jesus has still proven his worth, and he has contributed with goals and assists when available. Even if Arsenal moved to bring in a new first choice striker in the summer, having Jesus’ experience in and around the squad can only be valuable, and it’s not like he won’t contribute on the pitch too.

If both Jesus and Nketiah are sold this summer, then it leaves Mikel Arteta basically having to build a whole striking department from scratch. Keeping Jesus around will ensure that there is still someone who has scored goals at this level in and around the squad to help integrate and provide competition to any new arrivals.

Isaac Seelochan - Central Audience Writer

It is clear after two seasons at the Emirates Stadium that Jesus will not offer the goalscoring output to make Arsenal consistent contenders for major trophies. Injuries have played there part but eight goals in all competitions is the same as a struggling Marcus Rashford at Manchester United this season.

However, his experience would make him an invaluable squad player for the Gunners. In an ideal world, Arsenal should sell Nketiah and keep Jesus as backup whilst signing a top class goalscorer.

When it comes to potential signings, Brentford’s Ivan Toney has been mooted and he would be a good fit. Another potential deal to look at could be Stuttgart striker Serhou Guirassy who has netted 27 goals across all competitions so far in 2023/24.

Hush Kerai - Central Audience Editor

Gabriel Jesus helped take Arsenal from back-to-back eight-placed finishes and instantly played a major part in helping elevate the team into top four contenders and then title contenders. He has been a successful signing, without a doubt, but there is a sense he has hit a ceiling.

Arsenal have to ask themselves; why did Manchester City so readily sell Jesus? I do not believe Arsenal close the gap to City and win the Premier League with Jesus leading the line, and the evidence recently shows Mikel Arteta thinks the same. Kai Havertz has been the preferred centre forward since the turn of the year and the team's performances have been elevated because of it.

To make that giant leap forward from league and Champions League contenders to eventual winners, Arsenal need an upgrade. The obvious contender for me is Newcastle's superstar striker Alexander Isak.

The Sweden international will need prizing away from St James' Park with a substantial transfer fee, but if the club are willing to invest big like they did with Declan Rice last summer, I believe Isak is the player who could potentially join the club's historic list of iconic strikers.