Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has insisted that underperforming striker Gabriel Jesus "has a spark in his eyes again" after finding the back of the net in the Gunners' pre-season friendly victory over Manchester United in Los Angeles.
That was Jesus' second goal of pre-season, having also scored in Arsenal's 2-0 win over Leyton Orient. After Rasmus Hojlund scored early to put Man United ahead, the versatile Brazilian attacker hit the target in Los Angeles to level things up on 25 minutes before Gabriel Martinelli went on to hit an 81th minute winner.
This is a contrast to Jesus' previous preseason, when an injury derailed his preparation and prevented him from playing in the first three games of the season, including the Community Shield.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has certainly set expectations high from the Brazilian forward this season believing he has put more work into his preparations this summer.
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He found the net just four times in 27 Premier League outings last term as he lost his starting berth in attack to Kai Havertz while injury problems also hindered his impact on games, struggling with knee and hamstring issues, as the Gunners just narrowly missed out on top spot to Manchester City.
Arteta said: "He looks really good. He looks really sharp. He has changed a lot of things over the summer.
"He has come in top condition again. And when you have that baseline, other things can be built but without that foundation you don't have a player. He needs to be in that condition to get the best out of him. He has realised that. And I'm really happy with what he's shown today again.
"[What has he done?] That is a question for him. But I know that. It is a fact and you can see. The way he looks, his rhythm, his sharpness, the way he is moving. And you can see in his eyes as well that there is again some spark there because he has got now a point to prove and that is good."
Arsenal have been strongly linked with a summer swoop for a new striker signing and are weighing up their options after top target Benjamin Sesko opted to sign a new contract to stay at RB Leipzig and Sporting CP demanding Viktor Gyokeres' £86 million ($110.5m) release clause paid in pull.
When asked whether Jesus could use the rumours as motivation, Arteta said: "I think that motivation has to come within himself, with his self demands and how much better he is able to make the team.
"He has shown it. He transformed the energy and the belief of that team and he has got it there. If he is waiting for something external to motivate him, I think it is going to be for a really short period. If it something internally that is happening, that is going to last long and it is going to be consistent. Hopefully that is the case."
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