Mikel Arteta has under-used Arsenal star who 'all ex-players would hate to face'

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has been reminded that all former defenders would hate to play against Gabriel Jesus despite the striker failing to score a Premier League goal since January. Manchester United icon Rio Ferdinand has divulged conversations he has shared with many of his ex-colleagues about Jesus.

The struggling Arsenal forward has been snubbed for the No. 9 role for most of this season. That is despite Arteta lacking vast options for the position. Kai Havertz has made the position his own despite seeming more comfortable in an attacking midfield role.

Jesus has played in only 265 minutes in the Premier League this season, starting only two of his appearances. Ferdinand has revealed that he told Jesus that he should spend more time in the penalty area.

Speaking about how Jesus can improve, Ferdinand told his Rio Ferdinand Presents YouTube channel: “I’ve actually said this to Jesus. You play within the box, you’re a nightmare. I speak to so many centre-backs who are pundits now and they go, ‘I wouldn’t want to play against Jesus’.

“Hard work. He’s a problem, like he does a lot, he works hard all the time. I think he takes… he spends too much energy working outside of where you earn your crust. Ask somebody, the problem solved. And that is normally when he comes on the pitch, is to get a goal.”

Jesus has not scored a Premier League goal since bagging the winner in a 2-1 win over Nottingham Forest on January 30. Speaking in November, the 27-year-old insists he is keen to improve his goal tally.

“I believe that not only me, but any player, all players, want to have more minutes. I’m obviously never going to cause anything in the club,” he said.

“I’m going to try to demonstrate on a daily basis, in training, and when I get into the games, have my chance, and do my thing and trust that things will happen.

“I’ve always made it very clear that I want to improve, that I want to try to do my best and help Arsenal. Obviously, my moment is not the best, it’s not the moment I wanted, that I would like.

“But as I said, I’m working on my own, trying to do my best, and get more minutes to play, but that’s a consequence of my training, it’s a consequence of the way I get in and leave the decision to the coach.

“I believe in my potential, and I also know that the fight for my place in Arsenal is big, but I also believe that I can help a lot.”