Gabriel Jesus confronted by Manchester City supporters during Arsenal defeat
Gabriel Jesus found himself at the centre of a touchline confrontation during Arsenal’s 2-1 loss to Manchester City at the Etihad on Sunday, reports BritPanorama.
The 29-year-old Brazilian, who remained on the bench throughout the match, was warming up in the second half when a home supporter began taunting him. The City fan directed chants of “Judas, what’s the score? Judas, Judas” towards the former club favourite.
Jesus responded by approaching the supporter, gesturing towards himself and declaring: “I have won 11 titles here!” Even nearly four years on from his departure, relations between the Samba striker and fans of his old side seem tense.
Jesus arrived at the Etihad from Palmeiras in January 2017 and established himself as a key figure under Pep Guardiola. During his time in Manchester, the forward netted 95 goals across 236 outings, earning him 13th place in the club’s all-time scoring charts. His trophy haul during that period included four Premier League titles, an FA Cup, four League Cups, and two Community Shields.
Since his £45 million switch to Arsenal, Jesus has experienced a stark contrast in fortunes. The striker has yet to add to his medal collection at the Emirates, with the Gunners finishing as runners-up in each of his three complete campaigns. His output under Mikel Arteta stands at 31 goals from 120 appearances, with this season proving particularly challenging following his recovery from a serious knee injury.
Since making his comeback in November, Jesus has been limited to just two Premier League starts. At the Etihad on Sunday, Kai Havertz was selected ahead of him, with Viktor Gyokeres introduced from the substitutes’ bench. Havertz equalised for Arsenal following a huge error from Gianluigi Donnarumma, just seconds after Rayan Cherki had put the hosts ahead.
City secured the victory with Erling Haaland scoring the winning goal. During a post-match interview, the Norway international expressed satisfaction about the magnitude of the win as the title race intensifies. “I was quite happy, I have to be honest. It was a great moment for me. A great win,” he said.
Indeed, this latest episode highlights the complexities of football allegiances, as past heroes face the music of fickle fan sentiments. As football often reminds us, how easily bonds of loyalty can fray amid the emotional tempest of sport.
