Gabriel Jesus explains why he swapped Man City for Arsenal

The Brazil international ended a glorious five-and-a-half-year spell at Man City in the summer by joining Arsenal.

Gabriel Jesus has explained that he needed a change after five years at Manchester City and opened up on the freedom he is enjoying at Arsenal.

The 25-year-old signed for Arsenal in a €52.2 million deal from City in the summer transfer window. He has thrived in a central role in Mikel Arteta’s attack this season. In seven games, he has managed four goals and three assists to help the Gunners go top of the Premier League.

At City, meanwhile, Jesus often played as a wide forward as manager Pep Guardiola preferred using a false nine.

“The thing was the way [Guardiola] understands football and what he wanted,” Jesus told ESPN Brasil.

“Then it was up to you to accept it or not. If you don’t accept it, ‘thank you’ and let’s go for another challenge. I accepted it for a while, but there came a moment when I said: ‘I want another thing for myself.’ I thanked him, ‘thanks for everything,’ he understood, and we moved on.”

How is Gabriel Jesus’ Arsenal role different from his one at City?

“It is different here at Arsenal. The football is different — different players, different ways to play,” Jesus continued.

“At City, it was different. The striker didn’t touch the ball that much, you see this by watching the games. And, when it was time to touch the ball, it was not the striker, because [Guardiola] ended up putting a midfielder to come closer. OK, fine. So, I decided to change.”

On Arteta, who Jesus previously worked with at City during the Arsenal manager’s spell as Guardiola’s assistant, the Brazilian added: “I talked a lot with Arteta about Arsenal’s style.

“He knows me, I know him, I understood what he wanted from me. Now, I’m free on the pitch, playing football with a smile on my face and trying to do my best all the time.”

Jesus will play in his first north London derby on Saturday when Arsenal play host to Tottenham at the Emirates.