‘Totally different’: Chris Sutton says Arsenal’s team is completely transformed when 25-year-old starts

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Chris Sutton says Gabriel Jesus has completely transformed Arsenal’s attack since his summer arrival from Manchester City.

Speaking on the BBC’s Monday Night Club, former England striker Sutton compared Jesus with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Aubameyang of course used to be Arsenal captain, but Mikel Arteta bombed him out on the last day of the January transfer window.

He went to Barcelona and then to Chelsea, who Arsenal outclassed on Sunday, in a 1-0 win where the contrast between him and Jesus was stark.

Sutton on Jesus

He said of the 25-year-old: “Arsenal would not be the same team without Jesus in it.

“Watching the Chelsea game at the weekend, Chelsea with Aubameyang up top, Arteta was courageous in letting him go.

“Jesus gets involved in build up play, but Aubameyang doesn’t.

“Jesus is everywhere, he starts the press, he works hard – you can see other players feeding off him, Saka likes him and Odegaard likes him.

“Without him, Arsenal would be a totally different team, they cannot do without Gabriel Jesus. If he stays fit, they can run City close.”

Arteta inherited Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette, neither of whom offer what Jesus does in terms of energy and being a constant menace to defences.

Jesus has elevated Arsenal’s midfield to a new level this season, even though he is going through a run of games without scoring right now.

If he gets back on the goal trial, Arsenal can improve even more, and he may well be a World Cup winner with Brazil by the end of the year.