Transfer Centre

Gabriel Jesus pictured at Emirates Stadium ahead of Arsenal move

By Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter | 30 June 2022

Gabriel Jesus is pictured inside the Emirates Stadium for the first time as Arsenal prepare to announce the striker's £45m signing from Manchester City.

Soon-to-be Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus has been filmed inside the Emirates Stadium as he prepares to complete his move from Manchester City.

The 25-year-old is poised to sign for the Gunners on a five-year deal after the two clubs struck an agreement over a £45m transfer earlier this month.

Jesus has already been seen alongside Arsenal technical director Edu after completing his Emirates medical, and an announcement of the Brazil international's signing is now imminent.

While Arsenal fans are eagerly anticipating Jesus's unveiling, the club have been busy conducting their pre-announcement media duties with Jesus, who has been spotted in the red home kit for the first time.

A video leaked onto Twitter showed the striker walking down the Emirates sideline alongside a club media crew in a full Arsenal kit, which also displayed the number nine.

🇧🇷 Gabriel Jesus on the pitch at the Emirates.

[@JoshMonk1998] pic.twitter.com/BbfKEnMXrY
— TheAFCnewsroom (@TheAFCnewsroom) June 30, 2022

The jersey will soon be vacated once Alexandre Lacazette's exit on a free transfer officially goes through at the end of the month, with the Frenchman rejoining Lyon on a three-year deal.

As a result, Jesus is now all but confirmed to be inheriting the '9' in North London, which has also been worn by the likes of Charlie George, Alan Smith, Jose Antonio Reyes, Nicolas Anelka and Lukas Podolski.

However, Arsenal are supposedly not preparing to announce the signing of Jesus on Thursday and will instead wait until later this week to confirm the South American's arrival in the capital.

Jesus prepares to leave Man City after scoring 95 goals and providing 46 assists in 236 appearances for the club since joining Pep Guardiola's side for £28.8m five-and-a-half years ago.

The former Palmeiras man has won four Premier League titles, one FA Cup, four EFL Cups and two Community Shields during his Etihad tenure but has not been an undisputed starter under Guardiola.

Brazil's Gabriel Jesus pictured on October 10, 2021 © Reuters

Jesus contributed eight goals and nine assists to Man City's Premier League title win last season, although he only started 21 games in the top flight, often from the right-wing area.

The arrivals of Julian Alvarez and Erling Braut Haaland would have pushed Jesus down the pecking order, and he arrives at Arsenal preparing to become Mikel Arteta's first-choice centre-forward.

Jesus is set to become Arsenal's fourth signing of the summer window, following compatriot Marquinhos to the club alongside Fabio Vieira and Matt Turner for the 2022-23 season.

Following confirmation of Jesus's move, Arteta's side are expected to intensify their efforts to sign Ajax defender Lisandro Martinez, who is also wanted by Manchester United.

At one stage, the Gunners were thought to be leading the race to sign Raphinha from Leeds United, but the former Rennes man is now expected to join either Chelsea or Barcelona.