Thierry Henry loved Gabriel Jesus’ efforts during Arsenal’s 6-0 thrashing of RC Lens in the UEFA Champions League.
Mikel Arteta’s side booked their ticket to the last 16 stage in a ruthless style, with Gabriel Jesus netting his fourth goal in his fourth Champions League game for Arsenal.
The Brazil international, for his own goal, faked to shoot inside the penalty area when surrounded by opposition bodies, before firing home.
That part of the action caught the eye of a certain legendary figure, Thierry Henry, who added ‘I just love this’, as he told CBS Sports on Paramount+ (29/11/23 at 10:15 pm).
Just like Gabriel Jesus did against Manchester United in the Premier League earlier on in the campaign, he sold his defender to score a goal.
That was referenced by Thierry Henry and how Arsenal’s £45 million signing (Sky Sports) is ‘great’ for what Mikel Arteta’s side want to do.
Thierry Henry praises Gabriel Jesus
“I just love this,” said Henry about Jesus faking to shoot before scoring. “He did it against Manchester United, I don’t know if you remember on the break.
“Everyone thought he was going to shoot there. Watch how he does it. Oops, chops and goes back. Gabriel Jesus is a very important player for us.
“Will he ever score 20-25? I hope so. But what he does in general, it’s just great for us.”
Given the role Jesus plays and what he is asked to do, especially outside of the penalty area, it does result in the player, outside of Arsenal, being under-appreciated.
A bit like Roberto Firmino during his prime days at Liverpool. He makes everyone around him sing and dance.
Yes, he can score more goals, even he will say that himself.
But there is enough goal threat around him, as proven yesterday against RC Lens, to allow him to spend more time away from the danger zone and allow the whole team’s system just to tick.
This was a thrashing of the highest order by Arsenal and signs that the team is starting to get better.