Gabriel Jesus admits Pep Guardiola’s demands forced him to make Arsenal transfer

Arsenal star striker Gabriel Jesus has admitted to feeling more “free” on the pitch under Mikel Arteta compared to playing under Pep Guardiola.

The 25-year-old spent five years playing under Guardiola at the Etihad Stadium, and was a key squad player under the Spaniard with the Brazilian helping City win four Premier League titles and a number of other domestic trophies.

However, with time dwindling on his contract and the desire for a new challenge, he made the £45million switch to the Emirates Stadium in the summer and has hit the ground running. Four goals and three assists in seven Premier League appearances has seen the 25-year-old earn plenty of plaudits.

The Brazil international has now opened up on his decision to leave City, suggesting Guardiola’s system didn’t suit his game. “The thing was the way [Guardiola] understands football and what he wanted,” he told ESPN Brasil.

“Then it was up to you to accept it or not. If you don’t accept it, ‘thank you’ and let’s go for another challenge. I accepted it for a while, but there came a moment when I said, ‘I want another thing for myself. I thanked him, he understood, and we moved on.

“It is different here at Arsenal. The football is different – different players, different ways to play.

“At City, it was different. The striker didn’t touch the ball that much, you see this by watching the games. And, when it was time to touch the ball, it was not the striker, because [Guardiola] ended up putting a midfielder to come closer. OK, fine. So, I decided to change.”

“I talked a lot with Arteta about Arsenal’s style,” Jesus added. “He knows me, I know him, I understood what he wanted from me. Now, I’m free on the pitch, playing football with a smile on my face and trying to do my best all the time.”