'Hopefully' - Mikel Arteta issues clear transfer stance on Arsenal player who has been linked with exit

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has been speaking about one of the players who has been linked with a move away from the Emirates Stadium this summer. The Gunners defeated Manchester United in Los Angeles on Saturday night, with Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli on the scoresheet.

The Gunners are now ramping up their preparations for the new season, and Arteta will already be forming decisions over his starting XI for the start of the new season. Those decisions are likely to be influenced by incomings and outgoings, though, with plenty of players being linked with a move away from the Emirates Stadium.

One of those players is frontman Jesus, who struggled for form and fitness last season, leading to claims that Arteta would pull the chord on the club’s £50million investment. Arsenal are likely to sign a new striker this season, and there have been claims that Jesus could pave the way with a move to Saudi Arabia or anywhere else.

But after Saturday’s win over United at SoFi Stadium, Arteta appears to be firmly behind the Brazilian, who has returned to pre-season in tip top shape. "He has come in top condition again,” Arteta said after the game. “And when you have that baseline, other things can be built but without that foundation you don't have a player. He needs to be in that condition to get the best out of him. He has realised that. And I'm really happy with what he's shown today again.

"[What has he done?] That is a question for him. But I know that. It is a fact and you can see. The way he looks, his rhythm, his sharpness, the way he is moving. And you can see in his eyes as well that there is again some spark there because he has got now a point to prove and that is good."

Arteta was also asked whether talk of an exit could motivate Jesus heading into this season. He replied: “I think that motivation has to come within himself, with his self demands and how much better he is able to make the team.

"He has shown it. He transformed the energy and the belief of that team and he has got it there. If he is waiting for something external to motivate him, I think it is going to be for a really short period. If it something internally that is happening, that is going to last long and it is going to be consistent. Hopefully that is the case."

When asked about his poor form last year, Jesus put it down to ongoing injuries, saying that he was in constant pain while playing, but the summer break may well have helped his case as he looks to get fit and ready for the new season. Jesus missed eight Premier League games through injury last season, which is not a great deal, but it would seem as though he played through many injuries, something that may have impacted his form.