Arsenal are targeting the signing of Manchester City striker Gabriel Jesus – and Watford boss Roy Hodgson has heaped praise on the Brazilian.
The Athletic claim that Arsenal are favourites to sign Jesus this summer as they seek a new striker.
Edu is understood to have been in talks to sign Jesus for months now, positioning Arsenal at the head of the queue.
Jesus is out of contract in 2023 and City may choose to cash in this summer before he walks for nothing.
That gives Arsenal a chance to secure Jesus in a bargain deal, giving Mikel Arteta a welcome attacking boost.
With Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah out of contract this summer, Arsenal need to bring in a couple of strikers.
Jesus could be one of them, but he’s just reminded City of his quality.
Hodgson hails Arsenal target Jesus
Jesus smashed four goals for City in a thumping 5-1 win over Watford.
Yes, one of them was a penalty but Jesus won it. Rodri scored the other goal in the game and Jesus set that up too.
It was a truly sensational performance by Jesus, turning in his best display of the season just as the Arsenal links ramped up.
Watford boss Hodgson will have been feeling a little unlucky that this display came against him, but he still heaped praise on the Brazilian.
Hodgson has told the Hertfordshire Mercury that he felt Jesus was ‘excellent’ against Watford, praising his pressing, movement and finishing.
Hodgson was asked whether Jesus reminded him of Ronaldo with that performance, but Hodgson stopped short of such a lofty comparison.
“Yes, he was very, very good, wasn’t he? I never saw the best, the great Ronaldo,” said Hodgson. “Unfortunately, he had a knee injury when I came in, he only played three games and the rest of the time he was injured. I enjoyed his company but I didn’t see as much of him as a player as I would have liked. But of course I’d seen enough of him before that.”
“Jesus today was excellent really, really good. He took his chances extremely well. His pressurising was extremely good. His runs were very good. And of course, he got his reward with his four goals,” he added.
Jesus is unlikely to ever reach the level of a superstar like Ronaldo but he could still be Arsenal’s answer.
Arsenal would love a Ronaldo but just need players who can score Premier League goals – and Jesus could be their man.
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