Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has told Gabriel Jesus to ‘accept the coach’s decision’ after being snubbed by the Brazil national team....CONTINUE READING THE FULL ARTICLE>>>
The £45million striker has been a revelation at the Emirates this season, becoming the Gunners’ star player after being reunited with his former Manchester City coach Arteta.
He has six goal involvements in six Premier League matches already, but was surprisingly left out of Brazil’s upcoming friendlies against Ghana and Tunisia in preparation for the World Cup.
Jesus will therefore remain at London Colney along with teammates Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Magalhaes, who were similarly left out by manager Tite. And Arteta has now told players to ‘put their head down’ and prove why they should have been selected in the first place.
When Arteta was asked if he had been given a reason why Jesus wasn’t selected for Brazil, he replied: “I haven’t.”
He added: “What I have to do is to convince the players to put their head down, accept the decision of the coach of the national team and give them even more reasons if it’s necessary to tell them why they should be selected. That’s the way the boys reacted and it’s nothing else to comment on.”
Arsenal’s trio all being snubbed gave way to talk last week that their Brazilian technical director Edu may have asked Tite to give his players some rest ahead of a busy fixture list. But Arteta’s comments suggest that may not have been the case.
Arsenal’s trio all being snubbed gave way to talk last week that their Brazilian technical director Edu may have asked Tite to give his players some rest ahead of a busy fixture list. But Arteta’s comments suggest that may not have been the case.
Meanwhile, Tite played coy when asked about not selecting Jesus, saying: “Gabriel Jesus, specifically, is having a great time and in contention. Absolutely, yes.
“These call-ups serve as opportunities for others. As well as others in this same context. Regarding the number of attackers. Football is creation and scoring, and defensive solidity. If you run away from these characteristics, you will lose.”
Brazil face Serbia in their opening match of the World Cup on November 24. They will then play Switzerland and Cameroon in a group which they are expected to storm if they are to win the competition for the first time since 2002.
