Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has praised Gabriel Jesus’s “good performance,” suggesting the Brazilian striker is back in form just as Arsenal prepares for crucial matches against Newcastle United, Inter Milan, and Chelsea.

Jesus broke his goal drought in Arsenal’s 3-0 Carabao Cup win over Championship side Preston North End, a victory that Arteta sees as a catalyst for a strong performance run.Reflecting on Jesus’s first goal since January, Arteta said,

“It’s been a long time, but this will unlock something for him mentally. I think he had a strong performance tonight, and he looks very happy. That confidence will be key as we head into big games.”

Since joining Arsenal from Manchester City in a £45m deal, the 27-year-old forward has netted 20 goals and recorded 16 assists in 81 games, proving to be a valuable addition.

Arteta also shed light on his halftime substitutions of Jurrien Timber and Mikel Merino, explaining, “That was planned. We’re facing issues in our backline and wanted to manage minutes carefully. With Gabi and Ben White both out, we need to balance competitiveness and player protection with the packed schedule coming up.”

In addition to Jesus’s breakthrough, 17-year-old wonderkid Ethan Nwaneri also got on the scoresheet against Preston, which Arteta saw as a sign of the youngster’s promise. “He’s showing us what he’s capable of every day,” Arteta noted.

“You see his teammates look for him on the field, which is a great sign. We have an exceptional player developing here.”

Arsenal now turns its focus to a packed schedule between November 2 and November 10, with Arteta hopeful that Jesus’s return to form will propel them through these key fixtures.