You’ve probably seen the stat by now. Arsenal’s Gabriel Jesus has scored fewer goals than Darwin Nunez this season, despite playing some 400 more minutes than Liverpool’s oft-maligned Uruguay international.
Stats, however, can be a little misleading. Ok, Nunez has found the net more regularly than Arsenal’s marquee summer signing. But, in terms of the overall standard of performance, there is no doubt which player has made a greater impact. Nunez may have four goals in his last four starts. But the ex-Benfica frontman – who was playing in Spain’s second tier just two years ago – remains a work in progress; his decision-making and composure in the final third leaving a lot to be desired.
Gabriel Jesus, meanwhile, has been in sparkling form for an Arsenal side sitting pretty at the top of the Premier League table. In fact, he’s done everything but score at times; leading the line brilliantly, bringing out the best in his team-mates while striking fear into the heart of opposition defenders with his mesmerising footwork and relentless work ethic.
Gabriel Jesus vs Darwin Nunez
Then again, it would be churlish to ignore the fact that, in 15 games, Jesus has scored just five times. None in his last six. For the first time in his embryonic Arsenal career, Jesus’ wastefulness in front of goal found itself under the spotlight on Sunday; Mikel Arteta’s side paying for their lack of a ruthless streak during the 1-1 draw with Southampton at St Mary’s.
Arsenal’s back-up centre-forward, Eddie Nketiah, has made great strides over the last 18 months or so but is far from a proven goalscorer at the elite level. Nothing should detract from what has been an outstanding start to the season. But the fact is that Arsenal have now scored just four goals in their last five games; a run that includes a 2-0 defeat to PSV and that Southampton draw. If Leeds United and Bodo/Glimt had not been so profligate, Arsenal would probably be on a run of one win in five.
So, while Jesus remains an inspired addition, while Nketiah remains a decent second pick, questions are starting to be asked about why Arsenal did not bring in a serious penalty-box poacher; a more natural, reliable goalscorer than Jesus, and fill arguably the biggest hole in Mikel Arteta’s squad. This is not for a lack of trying, of course. Arsenal tried and failed to land Dusan Vlahovic, and were turned down by the likes of Adam Hlozek.
A missed opportunity?
Per CBS Sports, however, Arsenal were offered the chance to sign Porto’s Mehdi Taremi back in January. And the Iranian’s outstanding form may have some questioning why they did not grasp such an opportunity with both hands.
Only four players have scored more goals in the Champions League group-stage this season than Taremi; Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland, Mo Salah and Robert Lewandowski. In all competitions, the 6ft 2ins frontman – nominated for the Puskas award last year for his outstanding overkick against Chelsea – has 11 goals and seven assists in 15 games across all competitions.
“Mehdi Taremi is a player who doesn’t give any defence any rest. His work-rate is infectious,” Porto legend Domingos Paciencia tells TSF. “A striker with that persistence, who never gives up, who helps the team a lot.
“The best Porto has Taremi on the pitch. Lately, I haven’t seen a player as complete as he is. His defensive commitment, his personality is also very strong.”
Would Taremi have turned that Southampton draw into a win? We can only speculate, of course. But with the goals drying up, with Jesus’ finishing under the spotlight, the absence of a striker like Taremi threatens to undermine all the progress Arsenal have made under Arteta.
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