Gabriel Jesus Involved In Four Goals On Arsenal Debut After Fine Link-Up With Eddie Nketiah

Gabriel Jesus had to play as a winger for most of his Manchester City career but his 45-minute Arsenal debut revealed that he has not forgotten how to be a striker.

Jesus scored two goals and also created pressure which resulted in two own goals as the Gunners defeated Nurnberg 5-3 in their first pre-season friendly of 2022.

Following joining for £45m from City, Jesus was brought as a half-time replacement in Germany with Arsenal 2-0 down after a dismal start by new goalie Matt Turner.

It took Jesus only 85 seconds to score his first Gunners goal as he performed a one-two with Eddie Nketiah before slamming a shot inside the Nurnberg keeper's near post.

Gabriel Jesus shown trying to score his first Arsenal goal on his debut in a pre-season friendly against Nurnberg

Gabriel Jesus scored his first Arsenal goal 85 seconds into his debut

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The Brazilian's link-up play with Nketiah was really excellent.

It is commonly assumed that Jesus, Arsenal's new no.9, would largely be employed as a central striker in a 4-2-3-1 style this season, demoting Nketiah to the bench.

But Jesus and Nketiah played alongside each other as a classic striking pair in Germany where Nurnberg could not cope.

Gabriel Jesus (left) and Eddie Nketiah photographed during Arsenal's 5-3 victory against Nurnberg in July 2022

Jesus and Eddie Nketiah (right) collaborated to great success during Arsenal's 5-3 triumph against Nurnberg

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After Mohamed Elneny brought Arsenal level at 2-2, many spectators believed Jesus had headed in his second goal to make it 3-2.

But replays proved that Christopher Schindler, in an effort to block Jesus from scoring, had redirected the ball into the goal himself.

Arsenal's second score was likewise an own goal and again it was a product of pressure from Jesus.

Nketiah rifled in a shot which struck the crossbar and then bounced off Tim Handwerker. Handwerker's deflection propelled the ball goalwards and he was unable to fix the situation as Jesus used his body to protect the ball into the net.

Jesus then delivered a fantastic flicked finish from a cross by Martinelli to make it 5-3 and complete the scoring.

Next up for Arsenal is a matchup versus Everton in Baltimore's M&T Bank Stadium on July 16.