After their spirited victory over Sevilla, Gabriel Jesus has urged his colleagues at Arsenal to have faith that they can win the Champions League.
The 26-year-old helped Arsenal win 2-1 at Estadio Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan on Tuesday by setting up Gabriel Martinelli’s first goal just before halftime. He then scored a stunning goal himself in the 53rd minute.
A loss would have put Mikel Arteta’s team in danger, but instead, they are now top of Group B, with two home games against Lens and Sevilla coming up next month.
During his five years at Manchester City, Jesus advanced to the 2021 Champions League final. The Brazil striker then insisted that Arsenal, who have never won the biggest prize in European club football, should be aiming for glory at Wembley in June of next year. Jesus’ record in the competition now stands at 23 goals from 41 appearances.
“It’s a competition that I love, such as the Premier League,” he stated. “I enjoy competing in all of them because I enjoy playing football so much. But I scored goals from the first day of my Champions League debut.
Since I haven’t yet won it, I’m searching for this lovely trophy. Though it is obviously difficult, I think we must have faith. We are unable to be here if we do not believe.”
Nine minutes into the game, Jesus departed the field due to a hamstring problem that Arteta later said had him “worried.”
But Jesus downplayed the seriousness of the wound, saying, “Let’s see. I tested it with the physiotherapist, and it doesn’t seem like a major issue, but we’ll see. I’ve got a scan. It’s likely to be insignificant.”