Less than 90 minutes were all that was needed for the familiar accusations to resurface \u2013 \u2018Arsenal are soft\u2026 they can be bullied\u2019 and so on and so forth.<\/p>\n
\u2018New season, same old story,\u2019 was Jamie Carragher\u2019s rejoinder during their defeat by Brentford on the opening day of the 2021-22 campaign.<\/p>\n
Fast-forward a year and it took only all of 90 seconds for Gabriel Jesus in the Gunners\u2019 US tour to suggest he will help them turn the dial to a bolder, more brazen era.<\/p>\n
It was the forward\u2019s first start \u2013 following a \u00a345million move from Manchester City \u2013 and the opening confrontation of Arsenal\u2019s friendly against Everton. Jesus tangled with former teammate Yerry Mina inside the area and then, when the defender looked to protect the ball, the Brazilian bulldozed him to the floor in a totally unexpected move unbecoming of the striker.<\/p>\n
It didn\u2019t matter that Mina towers eight inches over Jesus. Nor did it matter also that this was supposed to be The Charm City Match.<\/p>\n
\u2018Sometimes the defenders kick you so much, your reaction is to kick as well,\u2019 said Jesus.<\/p>\n
\u2018Always in my life I try to be calm, to concentrate on the game, because anything can happen.\u2019 But? \u2018At the end, it\u2019s sometimes something I have to do as well.<\/p>\n
\u2018Sometimes they\u2019ve almost broken my leg and the referee said no and was laughing in my face. Sometimes the referee has to protect the attackers.\u2019 Unfortunately, help isn\u2019t always forthcoming. \u2018So sometimes we protect ourselves.\u2019<\/p>\n
Against Everton, the 25-year-old did more \u2014 he scored one goal and created the other as Arsenal kickstarted a tour that ends against Chelsea on Saturday night.<\/p>\n
\u2018I\u2019ve played with Mina before in Palmeiras and we were so close together, and after \u2014 I don\u2019t know why \u2014 he started to touch me, to pinch me on my chest and then talking s***,\u2019 added Jesus.<\/p>\n
\u2018I\u2019m not a kid any more and I went straight to him as well.\u2019<\/p>\n
The Brazilian\u2019s words will most certainly be well received in north London, as well as with manager Mikel Arteta, who has conceded that Arsenal could do with more tough and hardy street smarts.<\/p>\n
Which would help to explain why he wanted Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko, the latter another summer signing from former club City whom Arteta feels will add more \u2018edge\u2019 to his squad.<\/p>\n
That aside, the main glitter is their undoubted quality. Already the tenacity, sharpness and invention of Jesus seems to have elevated Arsenal\u2019s attack a gear as even at this early juncture, his goal tally stands at three in as many pre-season games.<\/p>\n
\u2018I don\u2019t want to be the main man here, I don\u2019t want to be a superstar,\u2019 Jesus insisted this week. That might prove difficult judging by the distinctive quality he has brought to the team.<\/p>\n
Of course, one way to share the limelight would be to share the burden, like he did with fellow forward Eddie Nketiah against both Nurnberg and Orlando City, and Arteta is keen to nurture their partnership.<\/p>\n
\u2018It was so good to play with him,\u2019 said Jesus. \u2018Eddie has a lot of quality \u2014 he holds the ball, he\u2019s stronger, he turns. He\u2019s very good and he\u2019s still young. I am too.\u2019<\/p>\n
Only 25, and yet already an elder statesman at Arsenal. For others in Arteta\u2019s young squad, Jesus could be a vital source of advice.<\/p>\n
\u2018I\u2019m not like this where because I\u2019ve lived something that the youngers haven\u2019t lived yet, I want to talk,\u2019 he said. \u2018I just show in the training session by working hard and that\u2019s it. If they want to come to talk with me, they can.\u2019<\/p>\n
Chelsea supposedly tried to hijack Arsenal\u2019s deal for the Brazilian. In the end, though, the forward opted for Europa League football. Why?<\/p>\n
\u2018When we started to talk about the transfer, it was with Edu and I knew then that Mikel wanted me,\u2019 explained Jesus. \u2018They showed me the project and then they showed me some stuff about my statistics and I was so surprised.\u2019<\/p>\n
Arteta has proven a valuable bargaining chip in negotiations with potential signings. \u2018I\u2019ve worked with him at City so I know him a bit,\u2019 said Jesus. \u2018He helped me a lot to improve my finishing after training sessions.\u2019<\/p>\n
Now, Jesus is targeting more trophies with his new side. They might not come easily but already the Brazilian has shown he is up for the scrap<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
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