There was some discussion among the media yesterday regarding Mikel Arteta’s comments about Gabriel Jesus potentially leaving Arsenal next month.

Terms like “no sense,” “no chance,” and “nonsense” were thrown around, but the overall message remained clear.

Despite a challenging start to the season, Arteta is committed to Jesus and has no intention of selling him when the January transfer window opens.

“Like all strikers, they go through phases,” Arteta explained. “It’s true that the gap has become quite large, but there are many factors involved—injuries and limited starts. His attitude has always been positive, and we’ll support him as much as possible.”

It’s understandable why Arsenal and Arteta might consider parting ways with Jesus.

Leading up to tonight’s match against Monaco, the striker has scored just one goal in his last 31 appearances, that being against Preston in the Carabao Cup.

A brief appearance during Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Fulham highlighted his struggles. Coming on for the final 16 minutes while Arsenal searched for a winner, he managed only eight touches and completed one of six passes.

Arteta once remarked that Jesus “changed our world” upon his arrival from Manchester City in the summer of 2022 for £45 million. Now, it seems the world around Jesus is changing, and he risks being left behind.

This has happened to other players at Arsenal in the past, given the rapid evolution of the team under Arteta.

In the early days of his tenure, it seemed unimaginable that Arsenal would move on from key players like Kieran Tierney and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, whose partnership on the left was instrumental in winning the FA Cup in 2020.

Tierney is still at Arsenal, but the fact tonight could be his first appearance for the club since August 2023 says it all. An injury crisis has forced Arteta to turn to the Scot, who looks set for a January move.

Jesus, however, is staying and the challenge for him is prove he has a role to play this season.

If he can get back to his best, then the 27-year-old can be a valuable asset. Capable of playing anywhere across the forward line, Jesus offers versatility.

Mikel Arteta is confident the Brazilian still has a role to play for ArsenalRichard Sellers/PA Wire

He is usually excellent in tight spaces, which can open up deep defences, and his intelligent movement and willingness to drift out wide helped bring the best out of Gabriel Martinelli two seasons ago.

The fear is whether fitness stops Jesus getting back to that level. Ever since he injured his knee at the 2022 World Cup, the striker has been hit by numerous setbacks.

That was especially the case last season. Jesus scored and starred against Sevilla as Arsenal beat them in October, but then he was out for a month.

He scored and starred against Nottingham Forest in January – which was his last Premier League goal for Arsenal – only to then miss another month.

Speaking in April, Jesus admitted he cannot remember the last time he played without pain in his knee and it is hard not to see how that has led to his decline.

If the striker can overcome that, though, then it would be a huge boost for Arsenal heading into the second part of the season.

And, perhaps, a game against Monaco in the Champions League is the perfect occasion to spark Jesus into life. He boasts a remarkable record in the competition, having scored 24 goals in 50 appearances

.Increasing that tally to 25 tonight would do Jesus the world of good. A goal would not solve all his problems, but it would certainly boost his confidence.

Arteta isn’t giving up on Jesus just yet, but the Brazilian must turn a corner soon.