After the 2-2 draw to Liverpool on Sunday, Arsenal will be back in action Wednesday night in a Carabao Cup round of 16 clash with Preston.
Many Gooners are unconcerned about this match, perceiving it as a straightforward one where an Arsenal win is the sole expectation.
Social media hype suggests that tomorrow’s match against Preston is a significant occasion for Arsenal’s young players, and this is indeed accurate. Fans have consistently urged Mikel Arteta to trust Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis Skelly with game time, so starting them Wednesday would be great.
While Wednesday night may provide a chance for some senior players to rest and an opportunity for younger players to showcase their abilities, two Gunners, Gabriel Jesus and Raheem Sterling, have the opportunity to change their circumstances at Arsenal in that game.
Both players feel in need of a performance to kickstart their season. So far, neither player has shown their brilliance. They’re undoubtedly two of the most technically gifted Gunners, but that hasn’t seemed the case; they’ve looked lost every time they’ve been on the pitch.
There’s a significant likelihood that they will start against Preston; if they do and truly express themselves, they could leave us raving about their performances. This should undoubtedly boost their confidence, and as Kai Havertz has demonstrated at times, it’s precisely this confidence that one needs to find their mojo.
Daniel O
ADMIN COMMENT
So here are some simple rules which I must insist commenters follow….
You agree not to give any personal abuse to other Arsenal fans. Everyone is allowed to hold their own opinions even if you disagree with them. It COSTS NOTHING TO BE POLITE TO OTHER ARSENAL FANS.
CALLING ALL ARSENAL FANS! Anyone who would like to contribute an Article or Video opinion piece on JustArsenal, please contact us through this link…
The Preston game should give him a chance to shine – but will he take it? He’s played in quite a few games this season with little or no effect. Anyway, we’ll have to wait and see.
If Jesus goes (yet) another game without scoring – something he hasn’t done since January after all (an incredible statistic for a supposed striker) – then how much longer is Arteta going to persevere with him?
There’s not much Arsenal can do if Jesus doesn’t want to leave (his contract is until summer 2027), but why bother picking him? Try out other options.
*him (Jesus)
I think for Jesus and Sterling these games are super important in terms of the short term for our first team… if they can both get a goal (or two) then that will release the pressure off them and give them confidence if they are coming off the bench
We dont seem to have hit our straps at all this season – so considering we are still in 3rd and doing on in CL then hopefully like last season when we smashed it after Xmas the same can happen
We can see how its easier chasing than staying on top so lets see where we go from here – wishing the boys all the best this evening
There are many detractors for Jesus at the moment, and I am one of them. However, we need a fit and in form Jesus if we are not going to bring in another forward in January. I also think he is a better back up for Saka than anyone else we have, including Sterling. Sterling definitely needs minutes though – if we are going to get something worthwhile out of his time here.
I’m plead guilty to being a detractor, based on the evidence of last season and this (so far). I’m sure Arsenal doesn’t want, and can’t afford, an expensive passenger, which he is currently.
While his injury situation appears to have improved after the “wobble” at the start of this season, his “form” certainly hasn’t. Still no goals since January. Is that the longest any “proper” striker in the EPL has gone without scoring? Must be up there, I would have thought.
Despite everything though, I hope he plays tonight and gets a hat-trick as well. If he does, that’s a great re-start for him. If he doesn’t though, what is Arsenal going to do with him (other than pay him)?
*pleading
👍
Jesus absolutely needs to have his best performance of the season or risk getting sidelined. Sterling though he has also been poor has the excuse of still adapting to the team and no proper preseason.
Both need a performance but jesus much more.
Jesus should have a commanding showing, anything else and he should quickly join Zinchenko on the bench. A LB that can’t defend, and a striker that can’t score; both positions for them in name only.
City was direct, determined, and ruthless when they outgrew Jesus and Zinchenko. We need to be the same for the sake of the club, they both should be phased out in the Summer, the January window if possible.
Nice guys, great teammates, good all around, but not productive or producing, so help them land at a nice club elsewhere.