Featured Image Credit: Alamy
Topics: Mikel Arteta, Arsenal, Gabriel Jesus, Europa League
Ryan Smart
Arsenal star Gabriel Jesus has expressed full confidence that he will score in his side's Europa League clash against PSV Eindhoven on Thursday evening.
The Brazilian has excelled for Mikel Arteta's side this term, scoring five goals and providing three assists in 11 Premier League games.
His skill on the ball, direct running and link-up play have caused defences major problems, and helped Arsenal to top the league by two points.
Jesus has played less of a role in European competition, with Eddie Nketiah starting all four of their Europa League games to date.
However, Jesus also started the 1-0 win over PSV last Thursday, playing 71 minutes in the 1-0 win that means the Gunners will advance from the group stages.
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And given the Brazilian's recent comments, it seems apparent that is set to start the reverse fixture at the Phillips Stadion tonight.
Jesus has not scored for Arsenal in his last five appearances, a rare barren run for the striker since joining the club in the summer.
The 25-year-old is desperate to end that run, and thinks tonight's clash in the Netherlands is the perfect time to do so.
He said (as per HaytersTV): "That [five games without a goal] has happened before and I'm pretty sure, in the future, it is going to happen again. That's football.
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"I don't want it to be like this, of course. I want to improve. I want to work, like always in my life, and then next game, I will try again.
"I'm 100 per cent sure I will score."
Arsenal will want to secure the group win with a positive result in tonight's clash, given that the second-placed team in each Europa League group now faces a play-off against one of the third-placed teams from the Champions League to progress to the next round.
Arteta said: "This competition is getting harder and harder, and how it looks today and what the possibilities are, it looks like the next round will be extremely competitive.
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"That's why finishing first in the group, and avoiding another two games, is such an important thing for us."