December 23rd 2023.
Gary Neville is a huge admirer of Gabriel Jesus, saying the Arsenal star reminds him of Manchester United icons Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez. Despite this, the football legend thinks Jesus needs to improve his game in order to become a truly elite player.
Neville spoke after Arsenal's draw to Liverpool on Saturday and noted that the Brazil international has only registered 3 goals and 1 assist across 13 Premier League games this season. He noted that Jesus is yet to display the instinct in front of goal that Rooney and Tevez had, and also suggested that Jesus is not linking up with fellow front-three players Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli as well as he should.
"I don't see Jesus, Martinelli and Saka linking up," Neville said on his podcast. "When Saka is trying to cross to the back post, he is smashing it across. I don't see Martinelli charging in at the back post. There's quite a lot to work on. I've found myself talking at the end of many Arsenal games this season about whether Jesus and [Eddie] Nketiah are No.1 and No.2 strikers in a Premier League title winning side, or if they are actually No.2 and No.3 strikers."
Neville went on to explain why he is such an admirer of Jesus. "I love Jesus. I really love him, honestly. I think he's a brilliant player and I would have loved to play with him. He's got a bit of Wayne Rooney in him, a bit of Carlos Tevez in him. But he hasn't got that instinct in front of goal. Sometimes, he is everywhere where you don't want him."
The former Man United star also noted that Jesus, Martinelli and Saka are yet to form a cohesive attacking trio. "I am just thinking about those great front threes," he said. "These three [at Arsenal], not even just in goals, they don't combine a lot together within games to play. I feel that will cost them at some point."
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