Gabriel Jesus says Arsenal should feel “upset” that they dropped points against Southampton on an afternoon when the Brazilian had several chances to put the game out of reach of the home side.
Despite taking a deserved early lead courtesy of Granit Xhaka’s ruthless strike, the Gunners failed to double their advantage before tiring in the second half.
Jesus fired into the side netting and had a volley saved by keeper Gavin Bazunu before the break and fluffed his lines again on the hour mark after being played through on goal by Martin Odegaard.
While the Saints created very little, Stuart Armstrong did finish their one clear opportunity to snatch a point.
“I think we start really good, the game. When we scored the goal, we keep playing our game, we created chances, I had a few chances in the first half as well,” Jesus told Sky Sports.
“I think we could have increased the level again; everyone as a team and as an individual, we have to concentrate more, focus more, be more aggressive with the ball and without the ball and in our structure.
“I think we go home today and we’ll be upset because with the game we played, we could score more goals and then win the game.”
While Jesus didn’t have his best afternoon in front of goal – he’s now failed to score in his last four appearances – he wasn’t helped at all by poor officiating.
The Brazilian might easily have been awarded a penalty after 14 minutes when he was hauled down in the box by Duje Caleta-Car and the Croatian meted out similar treatment, mostly unpunished, throughout the match.
28 points from 11 games – never been bettered before by an Arsenal team.
xG from tonight:
Southampton (0.59) 1-1 (1.52) Arsenal
We are just being Oliver Twist- we want more.
Really needs a few goals to pick up his confidence.
The goals will come…but am I the only one that hasn’t seen what Fabio viera does well?
Lacks size and a very physical Southampton we’re not going to bring the best out of him.
When Koscienly arrived he went straight on the weights to build his strength up. I would recommend the same for Fabio.
This boy needs to go for a few Currys he gets knocked off the Ball far too easy
My guy look well, The next Modric
For defo. His contribution and commitment to the team is unquestionable.
But as Arteta said when he was asked what he wanted his striker to be able to do – “to score goals”.
Gabriel Jesus has been incredible. But the stats are starting to pile up against him. I’m seeing comparisons to Darwin and Rashford that don’t stand him in a good light.
Put those naysayers to bed Gabby. Rest him for PSV so he can smash a couple past Forest.
We could do with a bit more of a unit as a complement to Jesus.
TBH , we were leggy in the second half and I don’t think we’re great when we’re passing it around at the back……..gives shit teams confidence to come on to us and recover from our swashbuckling periods, which defo suit us better.
As for officiating……..for gods sake……I’m not a Utd fan, quite the opposite , but how is that a penalty (Mc tominay), when every two armed haul down on Jesus is not even a foul, not even varred from what I can gather.
Leicester won the league by hauling strikers down in the box,……………….is it back? Why the inconsistency?
We should have won, hopefully a good lesson for the boys and Arteta.
And to G Jesus: just look at what’s going on at the 2nd class North London stadium on your way back home, and you’ll get a bit of relief 😅
Not questioning MA, after the season so far (even after today), but I am not sure about Eddie playing on the left when he comes on and Jesus Central. I know MA has previously said this involves less change, but Eddie is better as a poacher centrally, whilst GJ is used to playing wide. I think this would work, if they were swapping positions more, but unless my eyes are deceiving me, the front players do not seem to be swapping positions as much as they were earlier this season. Would be interested to know if the stats back this… Read more »
I feel for Gabi Jesus, I don’t think I’ve seen any striker (since Oli Giroud) so manhandled in the box and get absolutely nothing from the referees. How do they get away with such incompetent, biased and inconsistent decision making?And Nick Jover gets a yellow card for daring to be upset by it. I think Gabi is at his best with the pass and move that we do around and in the box, we’ve not seen so much of that in the last three games because the players are tired, physically and mentally, but the goals will come, he’s still… Read more »
The subs made things worse
Jesus needs to work on his dark arts. When he’s being impeded his ‘trap-door legs’ routine just turns officials off. I strongly recommend he adopts a more ‘struggling collapse’ technique. Dangle a leg, get tangled up, pull someone down with you…etc etc
Jesus only needed to convert 1 of those 3 chances and we would have won. I love the guy, but this is the difference between finishing 1st or lower and I think there is too much goal scoring responsibility on his shoulders when it’s not his game. He brings so much to the team but I just don’t see him as a 25+ goals a season striker so he needs some goal scoring support and just doesn’t have it. To me Eddie hasn’t done anything to show he can be more than a backup (could change in the future) so… Read more »
Here comes Balogun back, LANS…
Possible! He’s doing really well over there. I don’t know much about Ligue 1 or Reims though.
I was there today and i thought we looked really tired, attack especially. shame we didn’t capitalise on one or two more chances in the first half cause I thought that second half was comfortably the worst we’ve been all season. with that being said, coupled with the fact that Southampton were excellent, (again, particularly in the second half) we should be fairly happy with a point. I think the most concerning thing is how we move on from this because if fatigue is an issue its not going away any time soon. perhaps the squad can be managed slightly… Read more »
Jesus is a marked man now as the last few games have shown and Eddie is not up to the level as backup.