Mikel Arteta on a ‘different’ Gabriel Jesus, a warning for Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka and giving Arsenal kids a chance
MIKEL ARTETA was full of praise for his Arsenal side after their 4-1 thrashing of Bayer Leverkusen at the Emirates last night.
The Gunners were in ruthless, efficient form with goals from Oleksandr Zinchenko, Leandro Trossard, Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz netting in the opening 65 minutes.
Boss Arteta believes the North Londoners are in a near-perfect condition as they head into their final pre-season outing against Lyon on Sunday before their Prem opener against Wolves next weekend.
Here, SunSport’s Jordan Davies looks at the key talking points:
Jesus has a “different energy”
This time last season, Jesus was battling knee issues that eventually required surgery that saw him miss the start of the 23/24 campaign.
From there, he never looked right physically, returning for spells before a hamstring injury in October 2023 set him back further. Arsenal fans never saw the best from the Brazilian.
But this summer, it is the polar opposite. After missing the Copa America and deciding to get fit back in his native Brazil, the 27-year-old looks like a new player, a new man.
Against Leverkusen, his new-found strength, endurance and clinical edge was on show with a stunning performance that included a brilliant solo goal started from inside his own half.
And with a new striker unlikely to come through the door this summer at the Emirates, Arteta will hope Jesus can maintain this form all season, with both goals and performances to match.
The Spaniard said post-match: “When I saw him after talking to him at the end of the season it was something different. I could sense it.
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“His energy was different, the way he looks is different, the way he’s moving is different and he really wants it.
“Now it’s a question of finding the consistency and doing it in any context, any situation, any day, every three days, for 90 minutes, for 30 minutes, for 70 minutes. But he looks good.”
No rest for Rice and Saka
Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka both enjoyed a prolonged rest after helping England to the Euros final on July 14 – but 24 days later and they were thrust back into action.
The Three Lions duo came on at half time against Leverkusen and looked like they had never been away – Rice covering every inch of grass and Saka producing an assist for Havertz.
A sensational return considering Rice covered more ground (85.7km) than any other player at the Euros and played every minute, while Saka was on the pitch for 70 minutes or more in all but one of England’s games.
It is reasonable to suggest the duo, although integral to Arteta’s side, may need to be eased into the new Prem season in fear of one or both of them suffering burnout.
But Arteta argued: “The season starts in nine days so they have to be ready. These are the demands they have right now. We gave them the rest that they needed.
“The best thing to do is to look in their faces and there is that spark in their eyes, to come back and say: ‘I don’t want to miss it because I know how hard it is going to be.’
“That is the best sign, that the players want it.”
David Raya and William Saliba – who also were given some extra time off after starring for Spain and France out in Germany – also started against Leverkusen.
Is Trossard becoming undroppable?
With 11 goals in all competitions in since January 2024, Trossard has become an important figure in Arteta’s side – and showed that again up against Leverkusen.
His clever dummy teed up Zinchenko’s opener, his finish seconds later was the essence of composure and his influence off the left wing looks set to carry on into the new term.
There was a time when Gabriel Martinelli was a cert in that role, but his form has tailed off in recent months – just four goals since January 20 – opening the door for the Belgian winger to stamp his authority.
It is likely Trossard will start against Wolves, especially after linking up well with Jesus and Havertz in attack, the latter playing in a midfield role that Arteta still sees as the German’s best despite his incredible run of nine goals as a centre forward in last season’s run-in.
Asked about the chemistry of that trio, Arteta explained: “It’s natural and it flows. There is good chemistry between them, because those three all have that false nine profile.
“I really liked what I saw. We can still develop, especially on our left side.
“Those combinations are giving us options and they are all really, really good players so the competition is quite big there.”
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Nwaneri and Lewis-Skelly will get chances
At full-time, Arteta was seen in deep conversation with Myles Lewis-Skelly on the pitch after his impressive 45-minute cameo at left-back.
Lewis-Skelly was comfortable on the ball, able to cut inside as an inverted full-back and looks completely at ease at this level for a 17-year-old.
Alongside Ethan Nwaneri, the two Hale End academy graduates appear to have done enough to convince Arteta that they deserve opportunities in the first team this season.
Nwaneri, 17, came on for Odegaard in the 63rd minute and also had glimpses of what he can do in midfield, intriguingly up against Arsenal old-boy Granit Xhaka on his Emirates return.
Arteta sees no reason to restrict what they can achieve this season. With four competitions on the horizon – Prem, Champions League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup – this could be their breakthrough year.
On how involved they will be over the coming months, Arteta said: “If they continue like they are doing right now, it’s not going to have any difference whether they come from the academy or if we signed them from Argentina, Germany or Italy.
“They are showing the qualities that they have. They are especially showing personality they have to play at this level. Let’s see. We’re not going to put any restrictions, it’s the opposite.
“If they deserve minutes, they will get minutes.”