Arsenal’s standout player, Gabriel Jesus, has shared insights into his conversations with Oleksandr Zinchenko before their respective departures from Manchester City. In 2022, Gabriel Jesus made the move from the Etihad Stadium to North London, and during the same transfer window, he played a pivotal role in convincing his former City teammate, Oleksandr Zinchenko, to join the Gunners.
In his account of the discussions, Gabriel Jesus mentioned, “Edu just texted me and said they were going to Zinny’s house, and if I wanted to come and join them to talk with Zin, I could come by plane. So I said ‘OK.’ I went there and talked with him, and he was pleasantly surprised.”
“I’m happy if I played a small part in helping him make the decision to come here. I have a lot of respect for him as a player and as a person. I consider him a brother, and I’m thrilled that he made the choice to join us. He’s performing well, getting regular playing time, and, most importantly, he’s content. So, I’m genuinely happy for him. I just told Zina, ‘You need to make a decision like I did, and I’m content with mine.’ He was a bit uncertain at first, saying ‘I don’t know, I need to discuss it with my wife,’ but ultimately, he made the decision to come. I believe if you ask him, he’d say it was the right choice.”
Looking at the broader context, this dynamic Arsenal duo played significant roles in the club’s pursuit of the Premier League title in the 2022-23 season. However, despite their contributions, they fell short, with Pep Guardiola’s side securing the treble. In their debut season together, they collectively notched 12 goals and provided an additional eight assists, a pivotal contribution as Arsenal secured a coveted spot in the Champions League for the first time since the 2016/17 season.