The Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain will take up all of Arsenal‘s focus this week. After successfully winning a first Premier League crown in 22 years, the wait is almost over to see if the Gunners will make more history by clinching their maiden title in Europe’s top tournament.
Mikel Arteta‘s side will long be remembered as the team that broke Arsenal’s title drought more than two decades after the Invincibles. However, his squad could catapult themselves to even greater heights with a continental double.
There are other matter at play away from the Puskas Arena, however, as one star has addressed rumours over his future in north London. Mirror Football unpacks that and more in the latest headlines from around the Emirates Stadium this week.
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Having grasped his chance at a rare start in Sunday’s win over Crystal Palace, Gabriel Jesus’ future at Arsenal is an even greater talking point. The Brazil international has only 12 months to go on his current contract and may not be a chief candidate for an extension after turning 29 in April.
The former Manchester City striker is also the third-highest earner at Arsenal (after Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka) despite the fact he has started just 11 times in all competitions this term. Jesus’ injury setbacks have been a leading contributor to that as he missed almost the entire first half of the season while recovering from a torn ACL.
And it seems the Sao Paulo-born star is as in the dark as anyone else regarding his future. However, he seemed hopeful of remaining at the Emirates when discussing his next moves after scoring in the 2-1 win at Selhurst Park.
“The future belongs to God. I still have one year left on my Arsenal contract,” he told ESPN Brazil. “I want to play and prove to myself that I can still play at a high level.”
View 3 ImagesGabriel Jesus has said he doesn’t know what his future holds as he enters the last year of his Arsenal contract(Image: Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
It speaks volumes that Arteta awarded Jesus the captain’s armband for Sunday’s sign-off against Palace. A largely second-string side featured in south London ahead of the trip to Budapest, where Jesus will hope to have some involvement.
Viktor Gyokeres’ arrival at Arsenal last summer instantly sent Jesus down a peg in the striker pecking order under Arteta. However, that doesn’t mean both Jesus and Arsenal would be against the idea of at least one more season together before his deal expires, though Arsenal may be open to letting the player leave if a suitor is willing to help finance his wages.
He added: “A lot is said about my future and I’m very honest. It’s not easy for a player who always wants to evolve and help on the pitch with what’s been happening.”
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Another figure who’s be sent to the Arsenal sidelines of late, Martin Zubimendi made his first start in a month against Palace. And in response, the Euro 2024-winner has said he’s “ready to go” and return to the starting XI for Saturday’s face-off with PSG.
Zubimendi has been on the bench for three Premier League fixtures, as well as being dropped for the second leg of Arsenal’s Champions League semi against Atletico Madrid. Myles Lewis-Skelly has in kind made his way back into Arteta’s plans as a deep-lying midfielder and may be considered above Zubimendi in the current pecking order.
When Marca asked if the Spaniard saw himself returning to the starting XI against PSG, Zubimendi responded: “I always see myself playing, but what actually happens is another matter.
View 3 ImagesMartin Zubimendi has said he’s ready to start for Arsenal in Saturday’s Champions League final if called upon(Image: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
“Lately, I haven’t been getting much playing time, but I’m ready to go out and play. My overall performance in the Premier League has been very good, and I’m not going to dwell on these benchings.
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“It’s been a very demanding, long season, in which I’ve made efforts I haven’t made in my career, and that’s surely taken its toll. But I think I’m back to normal now.”
Arteta will be the judge of that as the Gunners take on their Everest. Declan Rice is one certainty to start in the engine room, possibly alongside Martin Odegaard, with Eberechi Eze the other big name in contention to earn a starting spot in midfield come Saturday.