Arsenal secured their place in the fourth round of the League Cup with a commanding 5-1 win over League One side Bolton Wanderers. Manager Mikel Arteta fielded a youthful lineup, giving four players their debuts, including first starts for Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly, while 16-year-old goalkeeper Jack Porter made his debut in goal.
Despite the inexperience of the team, Arsenal controlled the match at the Emirates, with goals from Declan Rice, Nwaneri, Kai Havertz, and Raheem Sterling, who scored his first goal for Arteta’s team.
However, Sky Sports pundit Michael Bridges was particularly impressed by one standout moment of individual brilliance from Arsenal’s Gabriel Jesus, which occurred during Havertz’s goal.
During the broadcast, Bridges, a former Sunderland striker, highlighted the Brazilian forward’s effort in the buildup to the goal. Jesus managed to beat two Bolton defenders while losing his boot, yet still made the critical pass that led to Havertz’s strike.
Jesus, who was signed for £45 million in 2022, has had a slow start to the season, with Havertz taking center stage in Arsenal’s attack. Despite not finding the back of the net in this match, Jesus delivered a memorable performance, with his play being one of the highlights of the evening. Bridges praised the Brazilian’s determination, saying, “There’s Brazilian brilliance from Jesus on that right-hand side, he’s got no right to win it.
He loses his football boot but he plays the pass, and then it’s the man who’s been magnificent tonight, Sterling. Havertz is the fastest to react because he’s the freshest. But that moment from Jesus, the whole of the Emirates will be delighted to see that. That’s what football’s all about.”
Reflecting on his performance, Jesus may feel he could have contributed more, especially against a lower-league side like Bolton. While he didn’t score, his leadership in leading the line and his work in setting up goals showcased his value to the team. Nonetheless, Jesus remains without a goal this season after a difficult previous campaign.
With Arsenal’s upcoming Premier League match against Leicester City, it’s expected that Jesus will return to the bench, knowing that this match was an opportunity to reaffirm his role as Arsenal’s main striker against a team they were heavily favored to beat.
Leave a Reply