10 Arsenal Players Who Wear The Number 9 Before Gabriel Jesus, Has Anyone Succeeded?

In order to increase their attack power, Arsenal finally recruited Gabriel Jesus. The Brazilian striker was bought from Manchester City.

Arsenal brought Jesus to the Emirates Stadium for a fee of 45 million pounds. He has a long-term contract until 2027.

Jesus previously played for Man City for five years. During that time, he scored 95 goals and 46 assists in 233 appearances in all competitions.

Meanwhile, Jesus will wear the number 9 shirt at Arsenal. He also always wears that number at Manchester City and the Brazilian national team.

Before Jesus, there were also several Arsenal strikers who used this number. Who are those players? Here’s the review!

Alexandre Lacazette

Alexandre Lacazette was the number 9 wearer at Arsenal before Gabriel Jesus. He wore the number after being brought in by the Gunners from French club Olympique Lyon in the 2017/2018 season.

The French striker was signed by Arsenal for a fairly expensive fee at that time, which was 53 million euros. Even so, Lacazette’s appearance at the Emirates Stadium was not very consistent.

Lacazette created 71 goals and 36 assists in 206 games. He left Arsenal this summer after his contract expired by returning to Lyon.

Lucas Perez

Lucas Perez was brought to Arsenal from Deportivo de La Coruna in the summer of 2016. Perez was signed for a fee of 20 million euros at that time.

Perez has only played for Arsenal for one year. He was only able to create seven goals and five assists in 21 matches in various competitions.

The Spanish player was loaned to Deportivo de La Coruna in the 2017/2018 season. He was eventually released to West Ham United the following summer.

Lukas Podolski

Lukas Podolski has scored 31 goals in 82 games for Arsenal. He also transformed into a fan favorite player while at the Emirates Stadium.

Despite having a lethal left foot, the German was unable to get regular playing time under Arsene Wenger. He usually plays wide rather than up front.

After being loaned to Inter Milan, Podolski was finally released by Arsenal to Galatasaray in the summer of 2015. He left the Gunners with a collection of one FA Cup trophy.

Park Chu Young

Park Chu Young was bought by Arsenal from AS Monaco in the summer of 2011. He also became the only South Korean player to have played for the Gunners.

Despite being trusted to wear the number 9 jersey, Park did not play much for Arsenal. He recorded only seven appearances with the Gunners.

Park had had loan spells at Celta Vigo and Watford. He was then released permanently in the summer of 2014.

Eduardo da Silva

Arsenal brought in Eduardo da Silva in the summer of 2007. At that time, the striker was bought from Dinamo Zagreb for a fee of 13.5 million euros.

Eduardo had become a mainstay on Arsenal’s front lines. Unfortunately, a broken leg against Birmingham in 2008 ruined his career at the Emirates Stadium.

Eduardo was then released to Shakhtar Donetsk in the summer of 2010. Three years with the Gunners, the Croatian striker created 21 goals and 17 assists from 68 games.

Julio Baptista

Julio Baptista came to Arsenal in 2006 on loan from Real Madrid. The Gunners at that time exchanged Baptista with Jose Antonio Reyes.

Sharp while still strengthening Madrid, Baptista even performed very poorly after moving to England. The Brazilian player has only scored three goals in 24 Premier League matches.

In the end, Baptista only lasted one season at Arsenal. He was sent back to Real Madrid after his loan period ended because he was deemed to have failed to shine.

Jose Antonio Reyes

Jose Antonio Reyes was brought in by Arsenal in the 2003/04 winter transfer market. Reyes was brought from Sevilla for a fee of 20 million euros.

Reyes then became a mainstay of the Gunners under the tutelage of Arsene Wenger. He appeared 110 times in all competitions scoring 23 goals and 25 assists.

Reyes was loaned to Real Madrid in his final season at Arsenal. The Spaniard was then released to Atletico Madrid in 2007.

Francis Jeffers

Arsenal spent 8 million pounds to buy Jeffers from Everton. He may be considered as one of Arsene Wenger’s failed purchases during his time at Arsenal.

Jeffers struggled to compete with Thierry Henry and Sylvain Wiltord. The injury factor also made the English striker failed to build his reputation at Arsenal.

Jeffers was only able to score eight goals during his two seasons at Arsenal. The player who had defended Blackburn Rovers finally left the Gunners in 2004.