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Can Gabriel Jesus fire Arsenal back into the Champions League?

By on July 8, 2022

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Arsenal have finally got their hands on a top class striker, but can Gabriel Jesus fire the Gunners back into the Champions League next year?

Mikel Arteta was left scouring the transfer market this summer after letting Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang leave the club over the past six months. Gabriel was identified as Arteta’s prime target after it became apparent he was keen to leave Manchester City.

The Brazilian international was in the final year of his contract at the Etihad Stadium and refused to sign an extension after Pep Guadiola splashed out on Erling Haaland from Borussia Dortmund. Gabriel wanted regular first team football ahead of the World Cup and Arteta promised to give it to him.

A £45m move was eventually agreed and Gabriel joined Arsenal on a long-term contract earlier this month. He’s already shown what he can do, scoring twice on his debut in a friendly on Friday night. Arsenal missed having an instinctive finisher last season and it ultimately cost them fourth place.

The Gunners were in pole position to finish fourth last season but a disastrous end to the campaign saw them miss out to Tottenham by two points. Harry Kane and Hueng-min Son’s firepower up front for Spurs proved the difference in the end.

Arteta knew he needs to add more goals to his squad and Gabriel should certainly help but despite his arrival, the bookmakers are still tipping the North Londoners to miss out on Champions League qualification again next season.

Arsenal tipped to miss out

Sites such as https://www.xn—–btdbb6d6fnocdrcxj.com/ price Arsenal as the 15/8 sixth-favourites to finish in the top four next year. Even Manchester United – who finished sixth last season and are in the middle of a complete overhaul – are ahead of them in the betting stakes at odds of 5/4.

Tottenham have spent well this summer too and Antonio Conte’s side are 4/6 to claim a top four place again this season while Chelsea are priced as the 4/6 third-favourites. Obviously, Manchester City and Liverpool are heavy odds-on favourites to finish in the top two again so it looks like there are just two places up for grabs.

Many Arsenal fans will look at the odds and think 15/8 is tempting considering Gabriel’s arrival, and the fact that Arteta has also brought in Fabio Vieira and is expecting to sign at least two more top class players this summer.

There wasn’t a lot between Arsenal and Tottenham last season and if I were a betting man, I’d say the Gunners would have taken fourth comfortably if they had Gabriel in their squad for all of last year.

The Brazilian has the potential to be a real star at the Emirates Stadium and it wouldn’t be a surprise if he proved to be the difference in the race for Champions League qualification this time around.