Arsenal’s Jesus urges club to believe UCL title is possible

Gabriel Jesus has urged his Arsenal teammates to believe they can win the Champions League after their hard-fought victory at Sevilla.

The 26-year-old assisted Gabriel Martinelli’s opening goal just before half-time before scoring a fine goal himself in the 53rd minute as Arsenal secured a 2-1 victory at the Estadio Ramon Sanchez- Pizjuan Tuesday.

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A defeat would have left Mikel Arteta’s side in a perilous position, but they now top Group B ahead of two home matches against Sevilla and Lens next month.

Jesus reached the 2021 Champions League final during his five-year stay at Manchester City and after taking his record in the competition to 23 goals in 41 appearances, the Brazilian striker insisted Arsenal – who have never won European club football’s biggest prize – are set to aim for glory at Wembley next June.

“It’s a competition I love, like the Premier League,” he said. “All the competitions I love, because I love playing football. But since the first day of the Champions League, my debut, I have scored goals.

“I haven’t won it yet, so I’m looking for that, this beautiful trophy. It’s obviously not easy, but I think we have to believe in it. If we don’t believe in it, we can’t be there.”

Jesus left the field nine minutes from time after suffering a hamstring problem which, Arteta later admitted, had left him “worried”.

However, Jesus downplayed the severity of the injury and added: “Let’s see. I’ve done some tests with the physio, it doesn’t look that serious. [a problem], But let’s see. I have a scanner. I’m pretty sure it won’t be anything.”