“My wish is to stay…”: Injury-prone Arsenal star issues call for club to issue him new contract so he can help them “win trophies”

Arsenal's Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz. (Reuters/Paul Childs)

Arsenal continue to set the pace both domestically and in Europe this season.

Mikel Arteta’s side sit seven points clear at the top of the Premier League and look firmly on course for their first title since the famous Invincibles campaign of 2003–04.

Progress has been just as impressive in the Champions League too, with the Gunners finishing top of the league phase and placing themselves in a strong position ahead of the knockout rounds.

While the collective picture is glowing, the campaign has been far more stop-start on a personal level for Gabriel Jesus.

The Brazilian forward has once again spent large chunks of the season sidelined, only returning in mid-December after a lengthy absence caused by a cruciate ligament injury.

Now back fit and contributing again, Jesus is eager to make up for lost time — and he has made his long-term intentions at the club very clear.

Gabriel Jesus has publicly expressed his desire to remain at Arsenal and has urged the club to offer him a new contract, stressing his determination to help deliver silverware in north London.

The 28-year-old endured a frustrating year on the sidelines, returning to action after nearly 11 months out with an ACL injury. His current deal runs until next summer, and interest has already been registered from Palmeiras, the Brazilian club where he began his professional career.

Speaking ahead of Arsenal’s Champions League clash with Inter Milan — a match in which the Gunners need just a point to secure automatic qualification for the last 16 — Jesus opened up about his situation and his ambitions.

“This is my fourth season at Arsenal and unfortunately I played maybe one-and-a-half or two seasons, and then the rest with injuries,” he said. “That never happened with me before, but happens here (at Arsenal), I don’t know why.

“My first target is to be healthy from now until the end of the season. And then obviously, like I said before, my wish is to stay at Arsenal.

“I have a contract as well. I want to extend my contract, I want to stay, I want to win trophies with Arsenal because I came here with a purpose and that’s it.”

With Arsenal chasing major honours on multiple fronts, Jesus’ return to fitness could yet prove vital. Whether the club move to reward his commitment with a new deal remains to be seen — but his message to the hierarchy could hardly be clearer.

Barnaby Lane is a highly experienced sports writer who has written for The Times, FourFourTwo Magazine, Sports Illustrated, TalkSPORT, and Business Insider.

Over the years, he's had the pleasure of interviewing some of the biggest names in world sport, including Usain Bolt, Rafael Nadal, Christian Pulisic, and more.