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Ayo Akimolere
The Athletic FC welcome to the Athletic FC Podcast with me, Ayo Akimolere. So today we're bringing you a special episode of the podcast, an interview with Arsenal's Gabri Jesus, the Athletic's Mario Cotegana Santos and Jack Lang chat to the Brazilian striker about the title race. Arsenal's mentality after three second place finishes his love for R9 and much more. We'll begin with how his move to Arsenal actually came about and the differences between Pep Guardiola and Mikel Arteta.
Interviewer (Mario Cotegana Santos)
So you said that Guardiola was key for you to sign for Manchester City. How important has been Arteta? Did he call you for you to join Arsenal?
Gabriel Jesus
Yeah, yeah, yeah, he called me. He called Pep. We worked together there as well. Obviously he was the coach member. He was the third coach there, but we spent a lot of times together there, of course, because we was training. He was one of the coaches that showed me a lot of clips. And then obviously he called me and then he explained me what they was thinking about and Edu was. Was here still in that time. And then he called me, he went to Manchester to visit me to speak with me. More open. And then, yeah, I think was one of the reasons that I joined Arsenal.
Interviewer (Mario Cotegana Santos)
Mikael called Pep.
Gabriel Jesus
Yeah, yeah, he called Pep.
Interviewer (Mario Cotegana Santos)
What did he think?
Gabriel Jesus
I think he called Pep and then asked like, oh, I want to sign Gabby, blah, blah, blah. And then obviously Pep just say that to me, but was like six months before the season finish and then he just say, no, I want you to stay, but you decide. So basically was that interesting.
Interviewer (Mario Cotegana Santos)
How do they compare in trainings in the way they approach players?
Gabriel Jesus
Yeah, I think they are not too much similar, but obviously there's something that they have in their DNA is the spirit of like winner, you know, they want to win every single game and then every single. Even train sessions, you know, they get mad if something doesn't work like the way they told. So, yeah, I think obviously Pep is older than him and then have been more in the situations that, you know, win trophies or fighting for something. But obviously Mikel now, you know, in three years in a row, like fighting for the league and then last year semifinal and this year the way the team are playing. So, yeah, I think it's about time to, you know, to Mikel reach another level as well. But still he's amazing coach. You know, obviously I'm glad to be coached by him.
Interviewer (Mario Cotegana Santos)
Harder training sessions under Guardiola or difficult?
Gabriel Jesus
Difficult. But I think Mikel, yeah, both.
Jack Lang
Both of those guys have a reputation for being pizza heavy, intense guys. You've gone from one to the other. Is it hard to maintain that as a player?
Gabriel Jesus
So. So maybe I'm older than I am. Probably we can say I'm older than my age today because I have been with him for six years and then three years with other. So, yeah, I'm older.
Jack Lang
Arteta We've seen these stories of his little tricks to kind of keep the players on their toes. The. The pickpocket in the. In the dinner, the freestyler. There was a time when he was holding that light bulb as well. Do the players react well to this? Do you?
Gabriel Jesus
Yes, yes, as we. We enjoy. We enjoy a lot, I would say, like 99% of the games we enjoy. Someone's like 1.1%. Sometimes one or another, but it's a little bit like boring or something like that. But most of them is. It's just amazing because just give some. Another energy, you know, like, normally we. We all like football, football, football, but sometimes you play another game or three games, you know, make you feel like, oh, this is different. And then from nothing you forgot, you forget about football for a second. And then after you play again. And then there's all the games, they have, like, similarity a lot with the football. So that's why he does it.
Jack Lang
Okay. And does Arteta get involved in the jokes? Do you, like, do you take the Mick out of him or do you mock him for these little tricks with
Gabriel Jesus
the players, you mean?
Jack Lang
Yeah. Or do you. Is Arteta. Is he laughing with you when you react to these things, or.
Gabriel Jesus
Yes, of course. He's very active there. You know, like another day in the dressroom as well was him against a player and then was very funny. Everyone was just like, smiling, laughing a lot and then joking around. So, yeah, this is good. You know, I think the chemistry when it's like this, you know, easy is better.
Interviewer (Mario Cotegana Santos)
Did you think when you joined Arsenal that it could take so long to. To win a trophy?
Gabriel Jesus
No, no, my. I remember my first chat with some of the boys was like, oh, in the preseason, I said, we are playing good, blah, blah, blah, we can win the League. And then few of them was like, laughing and say, oh, maybe you sign for a wrong club. I say, why? Like, with this kind of qualities in our team, we can go there and then win the League. And then when the season starts and then game by game, they always look at me like, wow, we can win. And then, unfortunately, was a period that we drop our level a lot. And then obviously City, like always, you know, they keep winning games and then we drop. We finish that season, my first season, losing the title. But after that, I think they could see that it's real, you know, like, Arsenal can go there and win. Unfortunately, three seasons in a row, we finish in second. But obviously from being like, fighting a lot and hard to qualify for Champions League, to be fighting for the title is something that we need to. We need to be happy. Obviously we want to win. But sometimes it's a process, you know, that you have to respect. But I think our team now is more like experience, you know, more mature, that we can go there to finish the season, then win the League and maybe another trophies as well.
Interviewer (Mario Cotegana Santos)
You joined from a winner team. What do you think that is missing?
Gabriel Jesus
Well, it's hard to compare. First because when I joined City there was like 16 or 70% of the player was experienced, was of more than like 28, 29. Arsenal when I joined Arsenal was like one player 30, another player 29, and the rest like 25, 23. And then obviously at City the players have. In that time there was like in a lot of big stage, you know, like World Cups, winning trophies. And then when I joined Arsenal was different. Was a beginning of a process. And then obviously now is still the same thing, but obviously the players now is more mature. You know, it's more like, okay, I have played World Cup, I have like fight for. For Premier League, Champions League semifinal. So now it's more experienced, obviously, but it's hard to compare.
Interviewer (Mario Cotegana Santos)
Do you feel the pressure? I mean, it's something that you speak about in the dressing room.
Gabriel Jesus
I think it's not even about the pressure. It's just like some like memories come to the mind of the players because we have passed three seasons in a row in the same process and then we drop and finally we drop or level in maybe similar ways and then similar times. So maybe comes to, you know, to our minds like some bad memories, like losing a game, losing the league, you know, so this obviously we speak and then obviously we change this mentally and then we go for it, you know, because when you have it and then you fear of losing, but we still don't have it, so we cannot be like scared of losing something that we don't have. So we need to go there and then just game by game, try to win the games. And then obviously five, four games to go, everything can happen.
Interviewer (Mario Cotegana Santos)
Who are the leaders there? I mean, for example, when the Manchester United defeat at home, who are the players who speak in the dressing room like, that can't happen again. What's the message? From who?
Gabriel Jesus
There's no one single one. I think it's few of them, like Bukayo, Declan, myself, Martin, David, Haya, Merino as well. Yeah, I think Christian Nogad, he tried as well. Like, not like louder. But he goes to the players and speak.
Interviewer (Mario Cotegana Santos)
How is Martin? Because he has been criticized about captain a bit, especially from the supporters. How do you see him in the. In the dressing room as a leader, as a captain.
Gabriel Jesus
So I have not seen some criticizes, so I don't know like what type of criticizes he received. But obviously what I can say is how Martin is. You know, he's a guy that he lead by example, you know, but obviously he's a different type of captain, you know. Cause me, I still young, but I have played with some like, serious, like tough captains, you know. And then his type of captain is different, but it's good as well, you know, like no one is the same captain or the same player, the same personality, but he's a good guy, very good guy, amazing player. And he lead by example. That's. That's okay. And also like the team I have played for, there was like some big personalities in the team. Sometimes not even like captain needs to speak, other players does it. So I think Arsenal now is turning to this and that's very good.
Interviewer (Mario Cotegana Santos)
You have mentioned Declan. He said that after the draw against Wolves, there were strong words in the. In the dressing room. What happened there?
Gabriel Jesus
How was that? I cannot tell what happened there because it's something internal. But obviously, like I said, I have been teams that players nearly fight in the dressroom and then wasn't the case in that draw against Wolves, but was like some like talks, you know, like strong talks, like no accusing each other, but was more like, okay, we need to, you know, step on it and then do better. Every single one do much better than we are doing. And then I think that was key message that, you know, still a lot of things to play, you know, was
Interviewer (Mario Cotegana Santos)
Mikael there as well?
Gabriel Jesus
Everyone. Everyone. Even the board? Yeah, was there?
Interviewer (Mario Cotegana Santos)
Oh, the board.
Gabriel Jesus
So, yeah, was. Was good. Was very good. Like I said, I have been in the teams that was like very, very big characters. And then this happens. This sometimes needs to happen.
Interviewer (Mario Cotegana Santos)
Just the words.
Gabriel Jesus
Yeah, Just the words. Yeah.
Jack Lang
Does the manager always speak as well, or will he let the players do
Gabriel Jesus
that between yourselves at the end? He always speak, you know, because he's our leader. You know, he's the boss, you know, he's the coach that, you know, every. Everyone has respect him and then follow his plans. But obviously, like I say, sometimes we need to take step forward and then take ownership and then try to, you know, to take responsibility as well. And that's good for the lads that in Arsenal trying to do. Now,
Athletic FC Podcast Producer
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Jack Lang
Could I ask about the set pieces?
Interviewer (Mario Cotegana Santos)
Yes, that's interesting.
Jack Lang
Obviously Arsenal have had massive success this season from corners. Especially yesterday being a good example. The win over Chelsea, it looks like you've worked on it a lot. Is that the case? Do you spend a long time doing that each week?
Gabriel Jesus
I think we train a lot. Obviously there's no like, oh, I'm good on that. Without training. No. So we train a lot. Credit for like Nico because he's the one that he was like, like fuming. I could see that we wasn't like score set pieces for like six games, if I'm not wrong. And he was like, no, we need to score, we need to score. So was, let's train.
Interviewer (Mario Cotegana Santos)
Estra, do you know that he has. Our colleague James McNicholas who is covering Arsenal, has published today that he has a bonus in his contract for reaching a certain amount of goals in bicep pieces. Do you know that?
Gabriel Jesus
No, I didn't know that.
Interviewer (Mario Cotegana Santos)
You should ask him to pay a dinner to the squad.
Gabriel Jesus
Okay, let's ask him then.
Interviewer (Mario Cotegana Santos)
Keep us posted.
Gabriel Jesus
I ask him tomorrow. But still every single team is scored by set pieces. Obviously one is called more than others because train more. Like for example, City, we didn't score a lot. A lot, A lot like Arsenal. But still we was scoring from set pieces. But we didn't train a lot there. But still, if I'm not wrong, Liverpool, they score a lot set pieces as well. And then just what I feel, just because it's Arsenal, everyone talk. And then obviously just because it's the team that is leading the League, everyone is talking about set piece. And then obviously the fans go and then sing the music and then everyone get mad. So we concede goals by set pieces as well. So. But set pieces is. Is. Is in the football. Like if you take a look to the World cup, for example, because for me it's the biggest tournament in football. If I'm not wrong, the percentage of winning World cup is by set pieces. So it's big. So set pieces will win you a tournament or World cup or Champions League win zero games. So it's part of football. So we are Taking this point for us, you know, to win in so many different ways, that's helped. Sometimes you cannot play good, or sometimes, you know, the defender. Because teams, they come to Emirates deep and then it's hard to get through them. And then when once we have set pieces, we have massive guys there that they love to score as well, and then they want to score. That's good for us.
Jack Lang
In the past, it was always the fitness coach who say, right, it's a fitness session. The players are, you know, maybe not their favorite.
Gabriel Jesus
Yeah.
Jack Lang
Is that what it's like with set pieces? Are you okay with that?
Gabriel Jesus
Not really. Not really. Not really. Because at least you have, like, the ball. You touch the ball when it's. Fitness coach. Depends. Because today is different, you know. But back in the day at Palmeiras, because City straight with the ball, but at Palmeiras we was like doing, like, test and then runs and then without the ball. So fitness coaches, they are more, like, intense than Nico, for sure. Nico is more joint sometimes. Obviously, like I say, we was like six games without scoring set pieces, he become like, okay, we need to score. And then you could see, like, he's more like, more stressed. And then he wants to do it, but obviously he saw something that helped us a lot. And like I say, sometimes a game like against Chelsea, for example, they have a great team, amazing players, they play, they try. It's a tough game. We won. They scored by such pieces as well. And then we won the game by such pieces. That's good. Three points.
Interviewer (Mario Cotegana Santos)
You won everything at Manchester City except the Champions League. So Premier League or Champions League?
Gabriel Jesus
It's hard to say because, like, probably the Arsenal fans, they are going to see Premier League because have been like more than 20 years without winning. But also they never won Champions League. So obviously for them, it's a dream to win both. For me, I want to win everything. But obviously, if I have to choose, obviously, it's Champions League. Yeah.
Interviewer (Mario Cotegana Santos)
How is training against Saliba and Gabriel? Every day. Very demanding.
Gabriel Jesus
It's tough. It's tough. Really tough for me and for them, for sure. No, Saliba is funny, you know, he keeps saying that. I call him. Oh, you a beast. Yeah, Like Zinchenko, he called him Rolls Royce. Rolls Royce, blah, blah, blah. And then I say, willie Willow, you are beast. You are so good. And he said, you know why I'm good? Because I train against you every day, so I become better. So, jokes aside, they understand each other, so, so good, you know, perfect. He's like one of, if not the best Central backs in the world because the way they understand each other is unbelievable. And then also Salib and Gabi, the way they, they want to, to win is something that is very good as well. So yeah, it's hard to train against them and then I cause some problem for them as well.
Interviewer (Mario Cotegana Santos)
How is Victor Gyokeres? He has not had an easy start here. How, how are you seeing him?
Gabriel Jesus
Well, he's a good guy also. And then the quality he has to like to shoot, to score goals, to run behind is amazing. I keep saying to him sometimes I say we are doing like a finishing drill and I say, oh, if I have this power to shoot, maybe my game goes to, you know, another level. Just joking with each other and he say, oh, if I have your quality as well. So yeah, he's a good striker. Amazing. You know, finishing, it's a Premier League, it's the toughest league in the world. You know, it's not easy. And then when you come to team that like Arsenal, that have a lot of pressure to win and then obviously they all look for the striker position because he's the one that needs to score goals and then win the games. But yeah, I think he's doing well and then I just hope that he keeps, you know, playing and he keep healthy and then he keeps scoring. That's good for Arsenal.
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Interviewer (Mario Cotegana Santos)
If I say January 12, 2025 Manchester United what comes to your mind? This injury?
Gabriel Jesus
Well for a second I don't remember what happened but obviously I know that was one of the in my career was one of the most toughest day of my life. You know if we are talking about football because that was something that I never felt before and then obviously was a long term injury. So yeah was quite a lot of emotions, you know feelings because was a good moment for me, you know. And then I felt so yeah was very tough.
Interviewer (Mario Cotegana Santos)
How was the worst moment the day the moment that comes to your mind? Like I cried a lot. I thought I was giving up I
Gabriel Jesus
think at the beginning, you know because obviously at the moment I just like I knew was something because me I normally I keep playing and then all my my injuries it's funny because all my injuries I keep playing and then I don't feel if I feel it's because it's something that is normally big. So I play for another 15 minutes with this injury, you know. So after that I was like okay, maybe it's not something big because I was playing. And then when the doctor says to me could be like acl I was like oh my days like difficult time is coming. And then obviously after the surgery I realized that probably like at least 10 months out and then when they come to me and says it's between 10, 12, 13 months I was like nah, I was like very like scared. I was like it's hard because I was just like you know playing good again and then again my form, you know. But yeah was a time that obviously I told a lot of things and then if I did not open my bible again and then be more connected with God Was the most beautiful thing happens in my life. So was very, very, very important that I was reading the Bible. I was like reconnected with Jesus in this part was amazing. But obviously football, I was like missing a lot.
Interviewer (Mario Cotegana Santos)
In September, it will be 10 years since your debut with Brazil. How do you see yourself in terms of the World cup you do you see there?
Gabriel Jesus
Well, I'm working for, you know, to be healthy first, obviously, and then. And then have a minute Arsenal and then try to help Arsenal. And then by helping Arsenal, I can, you know, have opportunity there and then show that I still like, can make it, you know, can help them. But obviously, as a Brazilian, I want to be there in the World cup to try to help the team and then. Yeah, but obviously there's still a long way to go and then a lot of to play. So. Yeah.
Interviewer (Mario Cotegana Santos)
Have you spoken to Carlo?
Gabriel Jesus
Yeah, they went to training ground, super training ground. And then they played at Emirates. I was in the game, I was in the dressroom. He's amazing guy, amazing coach, but unbelievable guy, you know, the way he speak with players, the way he treat the players. So, yeah, I spoke a little bit with him and then I'm so happy Brazil have such a nice guy and unbelievable coach in our national team.
Jack Lang
Do you think he is the right kind of personality for that Brazil team? You know?
Gabriel Jesus
Yes.
Jack Lang
Yeah. Why is that?
Gabriel Jesus
Because he. The way everyone see the way Ancelotti did with Real Madrid, for example, he won so much in his career. And then I still like. He understand football a lot and then obviously he understand the players as well. So when they announced him to Brazil, I was happy because he's the type of coach that I understand the players a lot. So that's. Why do you think his.
Jack Lang
His relaxed nature will help? Because in Brazil, obviously, you know, it's. It's a huge amount of pressure on that job. Br. You know, 200,000 Brazilians think they can be the coach. And Brazil have had a lot of coaches who have found it hard to, you know, it's been over 20 years since Brazil won the World Cup. Is part of his job to actually just keep things relaxed and protect the players from that pressure?
Gabriel Jesus
Well, like I said, he's. He's so experienced, you know, modern age. What he has, you know, passed through his career, you know, the players that he managed in his career, you know, the amount of Brazilians legend he had. So he understand. He understand he could be Brazilian easier.
Jack Lang
Okay. He. He's obviously got a lot of attackers, a lot of attackers who can play in different positions. You have played in different positions at Palmeiras, you're on the left, you've played on the right for Brazil. And even at the Copa America. Are you happy to play in all of those positions if it means helping your country? Or do you see yourself now you're at Arsenal as, as a number nine?
Gabriel Jesus
Primarily yes, of course in 2018, I, I in World Cup I played like for five, 10min back.
Jack Lang
Yeah.
Gabriel Jesus
So yeah, I'm okay with that, you know, as I just want to win, you know, I want to be there, win World cup, you know, play help, you know. But obviously I have my positions. I think I can play up front, I can play in three, four positions, different positions. And then obviously like you said, if we take a look in my career, in the games that I have played, I don't know, maybe it's like 16% as a strike and 40% as a winger, both sides or second forward. So yeah, it's quite like okay, he's a striker, but I think he play a lot in other positions as well. That's why sometimes people wants to compare like my numbers with a guy that normally plays striker and then is fair with me, but still like I think my game is different and then I'm so glad that I can play in more than two or three positions.
Jack Lang
Another player trying to get back in the picture for the World cup is Neymar. Would you like to see him? Regardless of your kind of place in the squad, would you like to see him there? Does he still have a place in this Brazil team, do you think?
Gabriel Jesus
Yes, yes. Well, Neymar is like without question is technically his our best player. That's no one doubt that. I think people sometimes doubt about his fitness. Few people complain a lot about how he lived his life and then this is not the way I think people needs to see. I think as soon as he get fit and then he's playing, he needs to be there and then obviously without complaint. I think not even and see a lot talk about. But obviously in Brazil they want to speak about a lot Neymar because probably most of them get job because they speak about him. So yeah, without doubting. And I know what I'm saying, like I have training, I have playing with this guy, I have been with this guy outside of football, amazing guy. So I just, I just, I just love when people talking like oh Neymar, he don't deserve to be in the World Cup. This is crazy. This is unbelievable as I don't know as other countries imagine you saying Like England, Kane cannot be in the World cup because let's say hope no, his injury and then he's like having like difficult to come back and then be fit, and then they say, no, Kane cannot be there. It's crazy because Neymar is a type of player that in one minute, one game can win you a game.
Jack Lang
Easy for the people who only see Neymar from the outside, you know, we have been amazed by him on the pitch for many years. But what's interesting is that all the players, all of his teammates are always, you know, you listen to Vinicius, they idolize him as a person in that changing room. Why is that? Like, what is he like day to day, apart from, you know, the amazing skills on the pitch?
Gabriel Jesus
Like I said, he's the one of the most o. If not because his size, you know, for the world, the most incredible player I have met in my life because he's so big. And then the way they treat people around him is normal. Should be normal. Yes, that's why I'm saying it should be normal. You treat the next person could very good. But unfortunately, we have seen a lot of players or celebrities that they do the opposite, unfortunately. But Neymar is such a big player, big character, but also like such a nice guy, you know, you love to be around him because he's just a kid, you know, like me, for example. Like once I meet Zero Beto, for example, at Palmeiras, right? I was like 17 and he was like, if I'm not wrong, 40 already. And then I was like, wow, Roberto. I watched him playing World cup and then in Bayern Munich and then I just like, wow. And then he was just like a kid, you know, joking around, you know, joking along with me, you know. And then I realized that, wow, that this is the type of guy I want to be. And Neymar is like this, you know, like everyone around him can see that he's amazing guy, you know, he treat people around him amazing. And then a part of what he does for people that need that no one see because they close their eyes and then just see, like, oh, but he wants to party, he wants to do this and he just come back now and then he score and he's playing amazing, you know. And then people start to realize that he's going to be there and then he's going to win the World Cup. That's it.
Jack Lang
Finally for me, we. We always ask all footballers now about Ronaldo, about Messi, but I remember I was at the Maracana when you Played Argentina? Actually, no. It was in the. I think it was at the mineral semi final of The Copa America 2019, a winning tournament for Brazil. And Messi on that day, I think criticized some of the refereeing and afterwards you responded to him. But you also said, this guy's the best player in the world, which, you know, Brazil and Argentina. That's not always an easy thing to say. So do you still think that? Is he the best player who's been seen in your lifetime? And what is it that makes you say that?
Gabriel Jesus
What he's achieved in his career and then obviously the way he played. That's why I said that. But obviously, like, it's two different things. You know, for me, he's. He's one of the best players in the world. Yeah. For sure. Ever. And then obviously, if like you come to me asking about players, that explain me the most. I, I want to say Ronaldo, R9. Because. Yeah. Not because, just because he's Brazilian, but everything. Even after suffering such a tough injury that he had like two or three, I realized that that guy was a beast. That the way he come back after this injury and then he still, like, did what he did. Wow. It's just unbelievable, you know, but obviously, like Messi, everyone talk about him, you know, the, the, the, the player he is, and then, I mean, like, they sit in the same table. For me, that's it. But obviously, if you ask me one player that comes to your mind straight away, I say R9.
Jack Lang
And do you have a relationship with Ronaldo? Do you know him?
Gabriel Jesus
Yeah, a lot, you know, yeah.
Interviewer (Mario Cotegana Santos)
Did he call you because of the knee injury and surgery?
Gabriel Jesus
He text me. Yeah, he text me. Well, we have some, like, business together in Brazil. And then obviously, like, we are closer. We share like a number. By the way, he's my favorite number, contact number I have because, you know, our night. I'm joking. So, yeah, he's. He's a nice guy. You know, this kind of like players, you know, such a big players. They are so nice. That's unbelievable.
Ayo Akimolere
Hi, everyone. Thanks for listening to that. Hope you enjoyed the chat with Arsenal and Brazil star Gabriel Jesus. We'll catch you soon.
Athletic FC Podcast Producer
You've been listening to the Athletic FC podcast. The producers were Guy Clark, Mike Stavroot and Jay Beal. The executive producer was Aimee Morehead. To listen to other great athletic podcasts for free, search for the Athletic on Apple, Spotify and all the usual places. The Athletic FC podcast is an athletic media company production.
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Podcast Summary: The Athletic FC Podcast — Gabriel Jesus Interview: Arteta vs Guardiola, Arsenal's Title Race & More
Date: March 21, 2026
Host: Ayo Akinwolere
Guests/Reporters: Mario Cotegana Santos & Jack Lang
Main Guest: Gabriel Jesus (Arsenal & Brazil striker)
In this special episode, Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus sits down with The Athletic’s Mario Cotegana Santos and Jack Lang for an honest, wide-ranging conversation. Jesus discusses the origins of his move to Arsenal, the differences between managers Mikel Arteta and Pep Guardiola, Arsenal’s title challenges, adapting to adversity, leadership in the squad, and Brazilian national team ambitions. He also reflects on injury setbacks, the importance of set pieces, and footballing inspirations, sharing candid personal anecdotes and locker room insights.
Gabriel Jesus (02:56): “He called me and then he explained me what they was thinking about... I think was one of the reasons that I joined Arsenal.”
Gabriel Jesus (04:10): “There's something that they have in their DNA is the spirit of, like, winner, you know, they want to win every single game and then every single... even train sessions, you know, they get mad if something doesn't work like the way they told.”
Gabriel Jesus (06:00): “We enjoy a lot, I would say, like 99% of the games we enjoy. Someone's like 1.1%. Sometimes one or another... but most of them is... just amazing because just give some... another energy.”
Gabriel Jesus (07:31): “I said, we are playing good, blah, blah, blah, we can win the League. And then... they always look at me like, wow, we can win... but after that, I think they could see that it's real.”
Gabriel Jesus (09:12): “When I joined City there was like 16 or 70% of the player was experienced... Arsenal when I joined... one player 30, another 29, the rest 25, 23.”
Gabriel Jesus (11:34): “There's no one single one. I think it's few of them, like Bukayo, Declan, myself, Martin, David, Haya, Merino as well.”
Gabriel Jesus (12:04): “He's a guy that he lead by example, you know, but obviously he's a different type of captain, you know… sometimes not even like captain needs to speak, other players does it.”
Gabriel Jesus (18:12): “Credit for like Nico because he's the one that he was like, like fuming. I could see that we wasn't like score set pieces for like six games... So was, let's train.” Gabriel Jesus (19:07): “Set pieces will win you a tournament or World Cup or Champions League... It's part of football. So we are Taking this point for us, you know, to win in so many different ways.”
Gabriel Jesus (22:40): “Saliba is funny... he keeps saying that... ‘I train against you every day, so I become better.’” Gabriel Jesus (23:45): “He’s a good striker. Amazing. You know, finishing, it's a Premier League, it's the toughest league in the world... I just hope that he keeps, you know, playing and he keep healthy and then he keeps scoring. That's good for Arsenal.”
Gabriel Jesus (26:59): “That was one of the... most toughest day of my life... was a good moment for me, you know. And then I felt so yeah was very tough.”
Gabriel Jesus (27:49): “Obviously after the surgery I realized that probably like at least 10 months out and then when they come to me and says it's between 10, 12, 13 months I was like nah, I was like very like scared... if I did not open my bible again and then be more connected with God... was very, very, very important.”
Gabriel Jesus (33:52): “Neymar is like without question is technically his our best player. That's no one doubt that...”
Gabriel Jesus (36:06): “He's... the most incredible player I have met in my life because he's so big. And then the way they treat people around him is normal... But Neymar is such a big player, big character, but also like such a nice guy...”
Gabriel Jesus (38:36): “For me, he's [Messi] one of the best players in the world. Yeah. For sure. Ever. And then obviously, if... you ask me one player that comes to your mind straight away, I say R9.”
Conclusion:
This episode offers a candid look inside Arsenal’s evolution, Gabriel Jesus’s journey through elite football, and the mental grind of chasing trophies. It provides rare insight into modern dressing room culture, management methods, and the personal challenges of an elite striker, making it a compelling listen for fans and those interested in the human side of the beautiful game.