BT Sport pundit Rio Ferdinand has called on Arsenal to sign Gabriel Jesus from Manchester City to strengthen their options up front this summer.
Speaking on his FIVE Youtube channel, Ferdinand was asked who the Gunners should consider signing and former Manchester United defender replied:
“If I was Arsenal, I would go and buy Gabriel Jesus.”
Fans on Twitter had a mixed reaction to Ferdinand’s comments, but many were against pursuing Jesus:
Wouldn’t pay more than 30
— Gooner (@KrameTheGooner) March 4, 2022
Players like Bernardo Silva and Kevin de Byrne will make any striker look good. This guy is overrated. Arsenal need a tall and fast striker like Patrik Schick.
— WolegzyRolegzy (@wolegzyrolegzy1) March 4, 2022
Someone that can not score for a city team bro don’t make me laugh he is just nketiah 2.0
— dat_muyi (@Big_Chulo_) March 4, 2022
This coming from the same man that proclaimed “Ole’s at the wheel?” Nah, you’re alright Rio.
— Simon Fung (@FungSoulbrother) March 4, 2022
Arsenal need an hungry striker not just anything that play upfront
— Real kuti (@kuti_real) March 5, 2022
Take this as cast iron evidence not to buy him.
— David Scullion (@dmscullion) March 4, 2022
No no no. He’s not a worldie, we need world class only, maybe we sign him as a back up
— Alexander (@Lexycabana) March 5, 2022
Jesus’s goal record for City isn’t bad. The Brazilian international has 88 goals in 222 appearances but you have to bear in mind that he is playing for a club that is brimful of attacking talent.
His finishing can be wayward at times and if he is asked to play in a team that creates fewer opportunities, he might not be the prolific forward that Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is looking for.
The London club already have a number of striker targets in mind for the summer, such as Real Sociedad’s Alexander Isak, Everton’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Lille’s Jonathan David so we shall see who they go after.