They were responsible for us losing the League — Gabriel Jesus

Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus has attributed his team’s failure to win the Premier League title last season to the absence of defender William Saliba due to injury.

Gabriel Jesus believes that Saliba’s defensive prowess and influence were sorely missed, as his absence disrupted Mikel Arteta’s tactical setup.

Saliba’s importance to Arsenal’s defensive structure became evident when he suffered an injury against Sporting Lisbon in the Europa League, causing him to miss the final 11 games of the season.

The Frenchman’s absence led to Rob Holding stepping in as a replacement in the center of defense. However, Arsenal’s title charge faltered in the last month of the campaign.

Speaking about Saliba’s significance to the team’s style of play, Gabriel Jesus highlighted the impact the defender had on the team’s defensive solidity. “When he plays, we concede few goals, but when he doesn’t play, the number of goals conceded increases,”

Jesus remarked during an interview on the Brazilian Podcast with Paulo Filho and Tiago Damulakis.

The Brazilian forward also acknowledged the commendable performances of his teammates when they stepped in to cover for injuries. Eddie Nketiah, who filled in for Jesus during his injury spell, and the arrival of Leo Trossard provided valuable contributions to maintain the team’s momentum.

However, Jesus emphasized the unique role Saliba played in the defensive setup, which impacted the team’s defensive record.

Jesus further emphasized the statistical impact of Saliba’s absence, stating, “Look at the stats; we concede a lot less with him.”

This observation underscores the importance of Saliba’s defensive contributions and suggests that his absence affected the team’s ability to maintain defensive stability during crucial stages of the season.

As Arsenal prepares for the upcoming season, fans and management will be hopeful that Saliba’s return from injury will bolster the team’s defensive capabilities.

With his anticipated presence in the lineup, Arsenal aims to address their defensive vulnerabilities and mount a stronger challenge for the Premier League title in the coming campaign.