da realsbet： Martin Keown says Gabriel Jesus is an outstanding talent but insists he is not the attacking "predator" Arsenal need right now.
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Arsenal thump Palace 5-0 Jesus bags assist in winKeown has doubts about forwardWHAT HAPPENED?
Arsenal reignited their Premier League title hopes with a 5-0 thrashing of Crystal Palace at the Emirates on Saturday. While Jesus bagged an assist in the game, he has scored just three goals in the league this season. That, and more, has prompted Gunners legend Keown to raise concerns about whether the 26-year-old will provide the goals the north London outfit need to top the table this term.
AdvertisementGetty/GOALWHAT MARTIN KEOWN SAID
He told TNT Sports: "I like him as a player. I think he is an excellent player but I just feel there is an issue. Is he the predator? Does he really want to get into that central position? And it almost seemed like he went back to type there. 'I'll wander into a wide position and then I'll feed somebody else,' but he doesn't really make the runs into the box. You have got to want to get there, it's got to be that desire to get on the ball and he can see the space but for whatever reason he doesn't want to get into that area; then they don't feed him. That's an area, perhaps, he needs to work on."
Keown added that the Brazilian may be reverting to type when he was playing in attack at former club Manchester City against Palace.
He continued: "It's just interesting that Pep [Guardiola] had him for quite a few years and decided to use him in that right position. That looked like the role he took up for Man City but if he is going to be Arsenal's centre-forward then they are going to have to do more work on keeping him in that central position but he works so hard for the team. He is an outstanding talent but I don't see him as a predator right now."
(C)Getty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE
Arsenal's title bid looked like it was going to falter after losing three of their past five Premier League games but this win may give them the lift they need. However, Palace are struggling for form and this result may not mean much in the grand scheme of things, with bigger tests yet to come, especially if they don't score enough goals to fire them to silverware. And to Keown's point, Bukayo Saka is their top scorer in the league with six. While Jesus may need to score more, Arsenal as a team probably need to, too.
WHAT NEXT?
Mikel Arteta's men have a slightly extended break until their next Premier League match, an away trip to Nottingham Forest on January 30, after being knocked out of the FA Cup by Liverpool in the third round earlier this month.