Arsene Wenger slams Jesus, names what Arsenal need to win Premier League

In a candid sit-down with Freddie Ljungberg for Viaplay Sports, former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger didn't hold back when criticising Gabriel Jesus' performance and highlighting Arsenal's struggle to find a consistent top striker.

Wenger pointed out the importance of consistency and durability in top players, drawing comparisons to legends like Ronaldo and Messi. This scrutiny comes as Arsenal seeks to bolster their striking options to fill the void left by departed forwards.

Since joining Arsenal from Manchester City in 2022, Gabriel Jesus has faced scrutiny for his lack of consistency in front of goal. Wenger pinpointed Jesus' injury record and modest goal-scoring tally as areas of concern. With only 11 league goals in his debut season and four in the current campaign, Jesus has been under pressure to deliver more for the Gunners.

"There’s a lot [of similarities between current Arsenal side and his team], [Martin] Odegaard and [Dennis] Bergkamp," he said, per Metro.Uk.

"They have no Thierry Henry at the moment because I think Gabriel Jesus is injured a lot. What the top, top player doesn’t tolerate is [being] in and out. The guys who make history are the guys who are consistently there.

"[Cristiano] Ronaldo and [Lionel] Messi, they play for 15 years, 50 to 60 games per year."

Wenger's comments shed light on Arsenal's urgent need for a prolific striker. With senior strikers like Aubameyang and Lacazette gone, the burden has fallen on Jesus and Nketiah, with the latter also struggling to make a significant impact.

The club has reportedly shortlisted several strikers, including Evan Ferguson, Victor Gyokeres, Ivan Toney, Victor Osimhen, and Benjamin Sesko, to reinforce their attacking options.