Gabriel Jesus names Arsenal star who can ‘do everything’ and makes title claim

Gabriel Jesus has reserved special praise for two Arsenal teammates and insists he is ‘very confident’ the Gunners will clinch the Premier League title.

Mikel Arteta’s side boast a nine-point lead at the top of the table as they chase a first Premier League title since 2004.

Second-placed Manchester City have a game in hand in which they will try to close the gap and may have dealt Arsenal a psychological blow before the international break by winning the Carabao Cup final.

Thoughts of finishing second in the Premier League for the fourth year in a row may have been going through the Arsenal players’ minds after losing at Wembley but Jesus insists he ‘100% believes’ special things are coming.

Asked by Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand how confident he is that Arsenal will go on to win the title, Jesus said: ‘Very confident, very confident.

‘We are in a good place and we have an amazing squad. Not just the players who play most of the games but the whole squad.

‘I believe 100% that this season we are doing something.’

Much of Arsenal’s success this season has been down to England midfielder Declan Rice, who Jesus rates as an ‘amazing’ player who can ‘do everything’.

Rice has established himself as one of the best midfielders not only in the Premier League but the world since his £100m move from West Ham in 2023.

‘He’s the type of player who can do everything,’ Brazil international Jesus said of Rice on Ferdinand’s YouTube channel.

‘When he arrived at the club I asked him to me a favour and that was to shoot every time you get the opportunity. Those moments can decide the game and his shooting quality is amazing.

‘But he’s the type of play who can do everything. He can defend, he can create, he can shoot… he’s an amazing player.

‘He’s different from Rodri because Declan is playing as a No. 8 now. I can compare him a little bit with Fernandinho. Fernandinho defended better than him I think but Declan gets forward, we call him The Horse because when he gets going you can’t stop him.

‘He’s amazing, man, really amazing. Look at his character as well, he was born to be a leader. I really appreciate him as a person and as a player.’

Jesus also heaped praise on Bukayo Saka, insisting ‘people don’t realising how good he is’.

Saka has been a key player for Arsenal and England in recent years but has endured an underwhelming season, scoring just twice since early December.

‘He’s very good, very good,’ Jesus said of Saka. ‘People don’t realise how good he is.

‘He’s the type of player who needs the ball, you’re not going to see him dribbling past five players and then score. He has that quality but that’s not his main style.

‘But he can get past you and put the ball in the top corner. He can win you a game or a trophy because he’s that good.’

Asked to compare Saka with some of his Brazilian teammates such as Vinicius Junior and Raphinha, Jesus added: ‘He’s at the same table, the same table.

‘They are all the same. Obviously we’re talking about different styles but they all have that quality and can do things in one moment. You still need to win trophies but he’s there, he’s there.’

Arsenal are back in action on Saturday, facing Championship side Southampton for a place in the FA Cup semi-finals.

Arteta’s side then begin a Champions League quarter-final tie against Sporting before resuming their Premier League title charge at home to Bournemouth.

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