Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus don open mouth talk about im future for club, and wetin e talk dey make plenty fans dey wonder if e go still dey for Emirates next season. The Brazilian forward, wey don dey struggle to get regular playing time since e return from injury, don tell Brazilian outlet Globo Esporte say e still get “desire” to go back to Palmeiras, the club wey im career start.
Jesus, wey be 29 years old, still get contract with Arsenal until 2027. But as e dey now, im mind dey divided. For im interview, e talk say im main focus na still to help Arsenal finish dis season well. “My main focus today is still Arsenal, to make things happen here, to help in the way the coach need,” e yarn. But as di season end, e go begin think about wetin next.
Di emotional connection to Palmeiras strong wella. Jesus talk say: “My desire is to return to Palmeiras one day and win more titles. I’ve already felt what it’s like to win there. That’s still in me, it’s a very strong desire.” Na for Palmeiras e play 83 matches, score 28 goals, before e join Manchester City for 2017. Di pull to return to Brazil dey strong.
But di striker quick to add say no formal offer don reach im table from Palmeiras yet. E talk say: “Of course, I also have to receive an offer from Palmeiras. But my relationship with them has always been very good and always will be.” So as e dey now, na just talk. No concrete negotiation don start.
For Arsenal dis season, Jesus don play 23 matches across all competitions, but e only get 855 minutes of action. E don score five goals and give two assists. Kai Havertz don dey ahead of am for pecking order, and di competition for attacking spots dey tight. Di Brazilian versatility no dey in doubt—e get 31 goals and 22 assists for 119 appearances for Arsenal—but playing time don reduce.
Di ball dey for Arsenal court now. Dem fit decide to renew im contract or sell am dis summer. If dem sell, dem go need to find replacement. If e stay, e go need to fight for im place. Di speculation go continue until transfer window open.
Meanwhile, Arsenal title hopes for Premier League suffer another blow after dem lose 2-1 to Bournemouth for Emirates. Junior Kroupi and Alex Scott score for Bournemouth, while Viktor Gyokeres score penalty for Arsenal. Di loss mean Manchester City fit reduce Arsenal lead to six points if dem win against Chelsea. Di two teams go meet next Sunday for Etihad, and di match don become even more important.
For other Arsenal news, reports dey say di club dey open to sell defender Myles Lewis-Skelly to Manchester United if dem meet Arsenal valuation. Di 19-year-old left-back don find playing time hard to come by dis season after arrival of Piero Hincapie and Riccardo Calafiori. E don make 28 appearances but only start once for Premier League. Arsenal also dey willing to sell Ethan Nwaneri, wey dey on loan to Marseille, and dem want combined £100million for di two youngsters.
Manager Mikel Arteta talk about di balance between academy graduates and winning. E talk say: “At the end, what it has to define this football club is to seek for the excellence and to seek for the best, regardless of whether you’re coming from the academy or from abroad.” E add say players from Hale End get identity, but dem must earn dia place. No gifts.
As for Jesus, im future dey hang. Di romantic idea of returning to Palmeiras dey there, but football business no dey simple. Arsenal go need to decide wetin dey best for club, and Jesus go need to decide wetin dey best for im career. Di summer go tell.
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