Gabriel Jesus delivers perfect response to Arsenal after scathing Mikel Arteta accusation
Gabriel Jesus scored on his Barcelona debut (Image: Getty Images)
Former Arsenal forward Gabriel Jesus scored on his Champions League debut for Barcelona on Wednesday - just a matter of days after he appeared to hit out at Mikel Arteta for training on his own.
Jesus, 29, left the Gunners to join Barca in a £8.6million deal earlier this month. He had spent four years at the Emirates Stadium, scoring 32 goals in 123 appearances, and helped them win the Premier League title last season.
But the Brazilian had fallen behind Kai Havertz and Viktor Gyokeres in the pecking order, and was deemed surplus to requirements with Arsenal keen to sell before the summer transfer window shut.
Despite interest from Napoli and Atletico Madrid among others, the Gunners sold Jesus to Barca on September 1. He penned a three-year contract at the Catalan side and went on to make his home debut as a second-half substitute during Wednesday's thumping 5-1 win against Feyenoord in the Champions League.
Barca manager Hansi Flick brought Jesus on in the 83rd minute for Dani Olmo. They were 4-1 up at the time of Jesus' introduction, but it took him less than two minutes to open his account and make it five for Barca.
Lamine Yamal floated a delightful cross into the box which was flicked on by Jesus' head before nestling into the bottom corner, leaving Feyenoord goalkeeper Tjark Ernst with little chance.
Jesus had another chance to score a second late on, but his header crashed off the bar and away to safety. Despite that, it was a positive first appearance in Barca colours for Jesus with a first goal to his name.
Gabriel Jesus impressed on his Barcelona debut(Image: Getty Images)
With that, it felt as though Jesus' strike was a perfect response after he claimed Arteta FROZE him out from first-team training and made him train alone in the days before he completed his move to Barca.
Speaking to SportyTV earlier this week, Jesus said: "So, the truth is, I was training, I did all the pre-season with Arsenal as normal. Obviously, I knew already that probably I would not play there or get many opportunities, but nobody told me nothing.
"Well, I am a professional. Obviously, I was training with the group. Then, from nothing, they put me to train away from the group.
"Well, I was training, I was doing my maximum to be ready if I have a chance to play at a high level again. Then, obviously, in the last week, it was very quick.
"The work with Deco, the president of the club, and my agent was amazing. In one day, it was sure that I would have the opportunity to come (to Barcelona). I said yes, straight away, no matter what, and I am so happy to be here."
Jesus' Barcelona are next in action when they travel to Levante in La Liga on Sunday. They then host Racing Santander before making the trip to Sevilla in their final game before the first international break of the season.
Arsenal face Napoli in their opening Champions League fixture on September 9. Fans can watch the game live on TNT Sports via HBO Max or Prime Video's TNT Sports channel.
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