Arsenal can get last laugh in transfer market over Chelsea with £45m masterstroke

Arsenal can save millions on a new striker this summer by keeping faith in Gabriel Jesus to put a disappointing 2023/24 season behind him in his third year at the club. The Gunners have been linked with big-money deals for the likes of Victor Osimhen and Ivan Toney, but they may be best leaving those targets to their rivals.

Mikel Arteta is said to be keen on bolstering his attacking firepower this summer as he seeks ways to finally pip Manchester City to the Premier League title.

But Jesus helped propel Arsenal from the depths of the European spots to title challengers after he could be the same as a new signing if he shows improvement this term.

Arsenal signed the 27-year-old striker from City in a £45million deal in 2022, and he scored 11 goals in 26 Premier League appearances in his first season.

However, he managed just four in 27 such games throughout 23/24, and he lost his status as Arteta’s first-choice option to Kai Havertz, who joined last summer from Chelsea for £65m.

Arsenal scored 91 league goals last term but have reportedly pinpointed another new striker as one of their summer targets.

Jesus has played a full part in pre-season, though, featuring against AFC Bournemouth and Manchester United and scoring in Sunday’s 2-1 win over the latter in Los Angeles.

If he can rediscover the form of his maiden campaign at the Emirates Stadium, Arteta’s attacking options will be significantly boosted.

The Spaniard has been left impressed by Jesus’ condition during Arsenal’s preparations, claiming he has “changed things” this summer.

“He [Jesus] looks really good, he looks really sharp. He’s changed a lot of things over the summer, and he’s come back in top condition again,” Arteta explained.

“When you have that baseline, other things can be built, but without that foundation, we don’t have a player, and he needs to be in that condition to get the best out of him.

“He’s realised that, and I’m really happy with what he’s shown today again.

“You can see by the way he looks, the way he’s moving, and you can see in his eyes that there’s a spark there.”

Jesus looks to have overcome his injury problems, leaving Arteta with two primary strikers that cost a combined £110m and removing the need for a new addition.

Osimhen and Toney are enticing options, but the transfer fees involved represent risks that Arsenal don’t need to take.