Gabriel Jesus' stance on Arsenal exit as Mikel Arteta confirms final transfer decision

Even with the £65million signing of Kai Havertz, offers from Saudi Arabia and fitness worries to contend with, Gabriel Jesus is determined to stay at Arsenal.

After two years in north London, many had speculated that Jesus would be moving on this summer. However, he's come into the new season with a steely determination to earn more game time in Mikel Arteta's side.

Seeing out Arsenal's opening 2-0 victory against Wolves on Saturday, Jesus' effort appears to have paid off after Arteta confirmed him as part of the Gunners plans. That much looks evident after the manager publicly placed in his current striker reserves, even despite rumours of new forward signings in north London.

A report from The Sun (via The Mirror) suggested Jesus is prepared to compete for his first-team slot at the Emirates Stadium - even in the face of substantial £60m offers from clubs in the Saudi Pro League. Arteta has rewarded that spirit and confirmed satisfaction with his current strike duo, turning his focus towards developing and backing his current players - including Jesus.

"I have faith in [Havertz], we have faith in [Gabriel Jesus], Leandro [Trossard] has played in that position," he told talkSPORT after Saturday's triumph over Wolves, where Havertz scored Arsenal's first before assisting the second. "So we have different qualities in there, and the best thing we can do is trust our players and try to improve them. They are so good and so willing and that's what we focus on."

Jesus - who has been lauded by Arteta for his personal development - shone during Arsenal's pre-season tour of the United States. Most notably, he dazzled in a 2-1 victory over Erik ten Hag's Manchester United, where he scored the equaliser after watching his team fall behind.

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"He looks really good," said Arteta of his South American star at the time. "He looks really sharp. He has changed a lot of things over the summer. He has come in top condition again. And when you have that baseline, other things can be built, but without that foundation, you don't have a player.

"He needs to be in that condition to get the best out of him. He has realised that. And I'm really happy with what he's shown today again.

"The way he looks, his rhythm, his sharpness, the way he is moving. You can see in his eyes as well that there is again some spark there because he has got now a point to prove."

Jesus hopes to be at the forefront of Arsenal's attack giventhe club has refrained from splashing cash on high-profile targets like Viktor Gyokeres or Alexander Isak. The Gunners will instead place their faith in Jesus to instead fulfil his potential and prove no such expenditure is required.