Arsenal’s Gabriel Jesus admits Guardiola ‘forced’ him out of Manchester City
Arsenal’s Gabriel Jesus admits Guardiola’s demand ‘forced’ him out of Manchester City to Emirates club.
Gabriel Jesus has spoken candidly about his desire to quit Manchester City after five years and the reasoning for his decision to sign with Arsenal during the summer transfer window.
Gabriel Jesus has admitted he left Manchester City because he craved a change from Pep Guardiola and that he feels “free” at Arsenal.
After spending five years at the Etihad, where he earned four Premier League medals and five other prestigious awards, the 25-year-old made a £45 million summer transfer to the Gunners.
Jesus, who just relocated to the south, has assisted the Gunners in climbing to the top of the table after seven games.
The forward has scored four goals and collected three assists.
Arsenal’s Gabriel Jesus on Guardiola’s demand
Jesus has already been dubbed one of the signings of the summer with Mikel Arteta deploying Jesus as his side’s central striker and attacking focal point – something which happened all too infrequently at City.
It is a strategy that has worked so far, with Jesus thriving and enjoying his football.
“The thing was the way [Guardiola] understands football and what he wanted,” Jesus told ESPN Brasil. “Then it was up to you to accept it or not. If you don’t accept it, ‘thank you’ and let’s go for another challenge.
“I accepted it for a while, but there came a moment when I said: ‘I want another thing for myself.’ I thanked him, ‘thanks for everything,’ he understood, and we moved on.
“It is different here at Arsenal. Football is different – different players, different ways to play.
“At City, it was different. The striker didn’t touch the ball that much, you see this by watching the games. And, when it was time to touch the ball, it was not the striker, because [Guardiola] ended up putting a midfielder to come closer. OK, fine. So, I decided to change.”
“I talked a lot with Arteta about Arsenal’s style,” Jesus added. “He knows me, I know him, I understood what he wanted from me. Now, I’m free on the pitch, playing football with a smile on my face and trying to do my best all the time.”
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