Wayne Rooney was massively impressed by Gabriel Jesus’ performance in Arsenal’s 3-1 win over Inter Milan and hopes to see the ‘clever’ forward drop to the bench again for Sunday’s clash with Manchester United.
Mikel Arteta made the tough call to depart out Viktor Gyokeres in favour of a fit-again Jesus on the San Siro – and the choice proved a masterstroke for the visitors.
The Brazilian struck twice – either side of an 18th-minute rocket from Petar Sucic – to present the Gunners a slender advantage on the halfway stage away to last 12 months’s runners-up.
Substitute Gyokeres beat Yan Sommer with a well-taken strike to extend the deficit within the 84th minute and the visitors held firm to ensure themselves a spot within the knockout phase of the competition.
The result saw Arsenal’s lead at the highest of the league phase table widen to 6 points, with second-placed Bayern Munich facing Union Saint-Gilloise tomorrow night.
One other resolute Arsenal performance comes just five days out from what guarantees to be a thriller at home to Manchester United, who’re also brimming with confidence after a shock derby day win.
But Arsenal’s defeat of Inter also raises loads of questions on the subject of selection for Arteta, especially in attack, where the Spaniard now has three strikers vying for one spot in Kai Havertz, Gyokeres and Jesus.
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‘It’s a dream night. I all the time dreamed of being a footballer and I watched after I was a child,’ Jesus told Amazon Prime after his side’s win.
‘I watched loads of Serie A, so to be here on this stadium and rating here is tears in my eyes because I all the time dreamed of being here.
‘There’s all the time a reason that things occur even whether it’s good things or difficult things. I learned that in my 11 months out of the sphere.’
The previous Manchester City attacker added: ‘It’s all the time difficult to play against Inter Milan. We got here here last season and lost.
‘Tonight we played higher than them, we controlled them but they’re a top team they usually attack. We scored at the top and got the three points.
‘We now have to maintain going because now we have one other one on the weekend.’
Afterward within the interview, Jesus was asked about his probabilities of keeping hold of his place within the side – however the Brazilian refused to position any more added pressure on Arteta.
‘Everyone wants to begin. I’m a really respectful guy,’ he said.
‘I’m not a child anymore, I’m 28, so I understand football.
‘I’m very blissful Vik [Gyokeres] got here on and scored a goal. I’m so blissful I scored and Vik scored. I’m confident Kai will rating when he gets the possibility.’
Rooney was somewhat critical of Jesus’ flat-out refusal to send a message of intent to Arteta in his post-match interview with Amazon Prime.
In the identical position, the ex-Manchester United and England said he would have been banging on Arteta’s door and forcefully declaring his case to begin against the Red Devils.
Asked who he would least wish to face out of Jesus, Gyokeres and Havertz as a United fan, Rooney replied: ‘Probably Gabriel Jesus I feel, just with Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martinez.
‘His anticipation and his little movements contained in the penalty box, he’s a really clever player.
‘If I used to be Gabriel Jesus now, I’d be there now saying, “I need to begin the sport on Sunday!”
‘He’s put himself able where he’s come here, he’s scored two goals, he’s played rather well tonight. So if I used to be him, I’d be putting it within the manager’s mind that I really need to play.
‘In fact, you respect your team-mates, but you must be playing in those big games.’
Rooney added: ‘Mikel Arteta goes to see that interview from Gabriel Jesus and that was a chance for Gabriel Jesus.
‘If that was me, I’d be saying to Mikel Arteta, “I need to play on Sunday! I’ve just scored two goals on the San Siro, I’ve helped win is the sport and I need to be in that starting line-up.”‘
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