Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer agree over Arsenal star who is 'not elite'

Alan Shearer and Gary Lineker believe Arsenal's leading man 'is not elite' despite his fine performance earlier this week. Gabriel Jesus has often divided opinion during his career, given he is not an out-and-out goalscorer.

Mikel Arteta hasn't expected him to be with the Gunners, valuing what Jesus brings to his system on the whole, with the Brazilian regularly involved in build-up to goals, even when he is not scoring himself, and there is no doubting his technical ability.

Jesus' latest big performance came on Tuesday night when he scored and assisted during a 2-1 Champions League away win over Sevilla. The Brazilian has received plenty of praise on the back of the performance, but more debates have been sparked over his ceiling as a player.

Micah Richards quizzed on The Rest is Football Podcast: "I want to ask you guys as strikers how good do you think Jesus is? Because I watched him a lot at Man City and I always thought he was a little bit below the real elite.” Gary Lineker replied: "I think that’s fair, I think he is a very good striker but what he gives you though is a terrific energy and work-rate and he’s also a very good player. He’s very good at the press which I think is important, his goalscoring record is pretty good overall, but is he a Haaland or a Kane or a Lewandowski? No, I think it’s fair to say that’s not the case.

"But if he stays fit he does a great job for Arteta’s side and he can play anywhere across the front line. So he’s below that level but you’d take him. You’d have him at Newcastle wouldn’t you, Al?” Shearer chimed in by saying: "I would agree with you. Yeah, because of where Newcastle are! I don’t think he’s elite, he’s not elite, but he’ll always get you goals when he’s fit and injuries have been a problem. But, yeah, I wouldn’t take anything back that you two guys have said.”