Steve Nicol heavily criticized Gabriel Jesus following Arsenal’s 1-0 loss to Aston Villa, claiming the Brazilian striker “vanished” during the match on Saturday.
Despite a WhoScored match rating of 6.65, higher than five of his teammates, Jesus managed only one shot on target in a frustrating 90 minutes for the Gunners.
Aston Villa secured the lead through a neat John McGinn finish and maintained solid defense, while Arsenal squandered opportunities in front of goal, notably Martin Odegaard missing significant chances.
Former Manchester City striker Jesus faced particular scrutiny for his performance, prompting former Liverpool right-back Nicol to suggest that Arsenal needs to acquire a quality No. 9 for a shot at Premier League success.
Nicol expressed disappointment with Jesus’ display, stating it seemed like Arsenal was playing with ten men due to the 26-year-old’s lackluster contribution.
He emphasized the importance of a strong attacking force in breaking down a resolute defense, highlighting Jesus’ absence in creating opportunities for the team.
Amidst this, reports suggest Arteta is eyeing strikers Ivan Toney from Brentford and Victor Osimhen from Napoli as potential signings. Toney is purportedly keen on leaving Brentford in January after the conclusion of his ban for violating the FA’s gambling rules. Osimhen, also targeted by Chelsea, might exit Napoli at the season’s end after rejecting a contract extension.
