Gabriel Jesus scores two goals and provides two assists as Arsenal defeats Leicester City.

Arsenal vs. Leicester City

headllinetoday

August 13, 2022

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The Arsenal attack's top level is evolving. At the Etihad, Gabriel Jesus made his Premier League Arsenal debut in fine fashion, helping the team score all four goals as they defeated Leicester City 4-2 in a rout. When the outcome is three points, Mikel Arteta will take the positive along with the defensive lapses on a day when Granit Xhaka, Gabriel Martinelli, and Jesus all contributed to the goals.

Jesus has improved as a player, and the fact that he is now the center of attention in the attack rather than just another gear in the Manchester City machine and that, thus far, he has handled pressure well speaks volumes about his development. Jesus' defensive pressure against Crystal Palace in the opening game stood out, obstructing passing channels and allowing the rest of the Arsenal assault to move around him. However, Jesus was able to dominate a Leicester squad that tried to assault Arsenal.

If this indicates that Jesus can now execute at least to the level of his anticipated ambitions, it is a frightening sight. His opener was a thing of beauty. In all of his tenure at Manchester City, Jesus just once finished with more goals than xG; it was in the 2020–21 Premier League season, when he scored nine goals and had an xG of 8.72. Despite being a productive goal scorer for City, he actually scored fewer goals every other season than his xG might have indicated he "should" have.

What a finish!

Gabriel Jesus nets his first Arsenal goal in style. #AFC
📺: @peacockTV #MyPLMorning | #ARSLEI pic.twitter.com/COBeCxpRRx
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) August 13, 2022

Jesus scored his second goal quickly after a daring finish that involved scooping Danny Ward over. Even though the ball struck a Leicester player in the head, Jesus was waiting at the back post to head any spills into the goal. Arsenal has become into one of the league's top teams as a result of corner kicks. Arsenal has never had the killer instinct, which is why they were eliminated from Champions League contention last season. However, with Jesus leading the charge, they should be able to create a sustained bid for the top four if he can keep up this form.

Willam Saliba's unlucky own goal gave the Foxes optimism as he attempted to clear the ball but instead knocked it over his goalie Aaron Ramsdale, but it didn't take Jesus long to have another impact on the game. Jesus applied pressure on Ward, causing the Foxes to make a mistake, which allowed Granit Xhaka to score one of his easiest goals ever.

Gabriel Jesus collects the spill by the Leicester City keeper and gets it to Xhaka who restores Arsenal's two goal lead. #AFC

Arsenal lead 3-1.
📺: @peacockTV #MyPLMorning | #ARSLEI pic.twitter.com/Uck3Bd2pox
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) August 13, 2022

Jesus' last helper, fellow Brazilian Gabriel Martinelli, came in response to another Leicester goal, this one from James Maddison. Before Martinelli's assured finish, the cut across the box was too rapid for three Leicester players to stop. Although the "it" factor for a forward is difficult to define, Jesus' entire game makes it very evident that he possesses it. His play has the power to completely change an Arsenal team that has to qualify for the Champions League, from elegant finishes to tough pressures in the box and everything in between.

Arteta aims to begin with six points in two games with a plus four goal differential. By signing two of their players, Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko, he has made progress in bringing the Manchester City ethos to the Emirates. The pressure is now on to at least claim a trophy this year.

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