After five and a half years, ten trophies, 95 goals and 41 assists in over 200 appearances, Gabriel Jesus has left Manchester City.
The Brazilian international has swapped the North West of England for London, in a £45 million deal that will reunite him with former Manchester City coach Mikel Arteta at the Emirates Stadium.
No City fan will begrudge Gabriel Jesus the chance to be a key player for the Gunners, although it’s a shame to see him leave after one of his best seasons to date in a sky blue shirt.
Advert
Despite spending much of his City career on the wing or competing with Sergio Agüero for a spot in the side, Gabriel Jesus managed to notch up an impressive 95 goals for the club, falling just short of becoming only the fourth player to reach the century mark for the Etihad side since the 1980’s.
Gabriel Jesus leaves Manchester City with the best wishes of the fans and, to celebrate his time at the club, we’re counting down ten of his best goals in a remarkable five years.
10. The Historic FA Cup Final (18/19)
Advert
Gabriel Jesus scored a brace as Manchester City romped to the biggest FA Cup final win in over a century, but his second goal that day is the one that makes this list.
Sometimes harshly criticised for a lack of composure in his early years, the Brazilian showed no such weakness as he latched on to a Kevin De Bruyne through ball, fooled the ‘keeper with a fake shot, and then slotted home to make it 4-0.
In trademark Gabriel Jesus fashion, it was the #33 who had won back possession in the first place, out jumping a defender to head down to his teammate.
That same work ethic endeared Jesus to Manchester City fans from day one.
9. The Sublime Turn That Beat Alexander-Arnold (20/21)
Advert
A lot of Gabriel Jesus’ time at Manchester City was characterised by goals in big games, and Liverpool were perhaps his most frequent victims.
With Liverpool leading City in an Etihad Stadium left empty by Coronavirus restrictions, it took a spark of Brazilian skill to break down the famously sturdy visiting defence.
Kevin De Bruyne was the provider again, and Gabriel Jesus’ first touch - a perfectly-weighted flick off the inside of his foot - left Trent Alexander-Arnold for dead before the forward pounced to equalise.
Manchester City were barely in the top 10 at the time, and five points behind Liverpool, but after this draw they would go on to win the title at a canter.
8. The European Goal That Almost Took the Net Off (20/21)
Advert
Roughly one in five Gabriel Jesus goals for Manchester City came in the Champions League, where he would often thrive against opponents that played very different football from what a Premier League side is used to.
There was something eerily Sergio Agüero-esque about this strike against Greek champions, Olympiacos.
Picking up the ball from Kevin De Bruyne yet again, Jesus dribbled almost to the byline before smashing into the roof of the net from what looked like an impossible angle.
Though shot power has never been an attribute associated with Gabriel Jesus, this wonder-strike is solid proof that he’s got a rocket in his locker.
7. The Performance That Raphaël Varane Couldn’t Handle (19/20)
Advert
From one European night to another, most Manchester City fans would point to Gabriel Jesus’ performance in the 2020 Champions League knock-out tie against Real Madrid as one of his finest for the club.
Having already scored in the first-leg, Jesus took control of the second (played in August thanks to Coronavirus).
The Brazil star latched onto a loose header by Raphaël Varane - at the time considered one of the best centre-backs in the world - and somehow managed to squeeze an excellent finish past Thibaut Courtois and give Manchester City a two-goal aggregate lead.
Jesus ran the Real Madrid defence ragged all night and it was his relentless pressing that won the tie for City - he’d assisted the first goal that evening by pickpocketing Varane, too.
6. The Time He Scored Two Stunners in One Game (19/20)
Long before deploying Gabriel Jesus on the wing was a common tactic for Manchester City, he delivered a masterclass playing off the left to silence Turf Moor.
Starting at the new home of Vincent Kompany, Jesus had already scored one brilliant goal (more on that later) when Bernardo Silva sent a swerving ball from the corner of the penalty area all the way to the edge of the six-yard box.
The Brazilian improvised to deliver a flying volley, which shot past Nick Pope before he could react.
Eric Cantona, eat your heart out.
5. The Best of a Hat-Trick in Zagreb (19/20)
If I had a penny for every time a goal on this list featured Gabriel Jesus turning a defender wearing #66 before scoring, I’d have two pennies.
This time it was against Dinamo Zagreb on a sold-out European night.
Jesus dribbled deep into the box before the home defender charged at him to make a tackle.
Instead, Manchester City’s man cut inside brilliantly and left the opponent watching from the floor as he curled it low past the ‘keeper.
4. The Chip That Stranded the Goalkeeper (18/19)
For most of his early years at the club, Gabriel Jesus was known for goals from close range in which his movement would create a simple enough finish.
After his heroics at the end of the Centurions season, however, more impressive shots started to become a regularity.
Yet another goal from a Champions League hat-trick, this one came in injury time with Gabriel Jesus desperate to get his third goal. When Riyad Mahrez played the ball through, Jesus took one look at the ‘keeper off his line before lobbing it perfectly over him and into the net.
He still hasn’t shaken that ‘tap-in merchant’ tag amongst some fans, but goals like this show that there’s more to his game.
3. The First of a Brace to Beat the Toffees (19/20)
The fourth goal from 2019/20 in this list, Gabriel Jesus terrorised Everton just as much as he did their Merseyside rivals Liverpool.
On the night, Manchester City were seriously struggling to break down Carlo Ancelotti’s visitors.
It was Jesus who came up with the goods, receiving the ball inside the box from an Ilkay Gundogan pass. When it fell to him almost completely dead, he opened up his body and curled a gorgeous strike past Jordan Pickford and into the far corner.
2. The Time He Channelled Frank Ribéry
We’ve already mentioned that goal #6 wasn’t even Gabriel Jesus’ best strike from that game. No, that title surely goes to his first of the match.
When the Brazilian arrived at the edge of the box, there was only one thing on his mind: scoring.
Without hesitation, he cut onto his favoured right foot and bent a shot Sergio Agüero would have been proud of past a helpless Nick Pope.
A Gabriel Jesus full of confidence like that is something any defence should fear.
Arsenal fans, this is exactly what you have to look forward to.
1. The Goal That Made City Centurions
Arguably the most iconic Premier League goal ever to be scored in what was technically a meaningless game, this Gabriel Jesus strike will surely live longest in the memories of most City fans.
With the Premier League title wrapped up early, Pep Guardiola’s men only had one thing on their minds: reaching that unprecedented 100-point mark. With seconds left on the clock at Southampton, the score is 0-0, it looked like one of the best teams ever had just about blown the chance to hit that monumental tally.
Until Jesus popped up in the dying moment.
He must’ve known how much the fans and the squad wanted to make it a century of points, but he kept his cool to hook the ball over the ‘keeper and make history.
Will a hundred points ever be beaten? Maybe not, and if not, it’s Gabriel Jesus who made the only Centurion season ever a reality.
Topics: Gabriel Jesus, Arsenal, Manchester City, Premier League, Football, Champions League, FA Cup, Brazil
