Arsenal could be set to lose Gabriel Jesus this summer, with former Gunners midfielder Ray Parlour suggesting the Brazilian striker’s time at the Emirates is likely coming to an end. Speaking to Metro, Parlour pointed out that Jesus, now 29, is at a point in his career where starting every week is more important than just being part of the squad. “I think Jesus might leave at the end of the season, he is at that age where he wants to be playing week in, week out,” Parlour told Metro.
Arsenal legend Ray Parlour thinks Gabriel Jesus is heading for the exit door this summer
The Arsenal legend didn’t stop there. He looked back at how Arsenal used to keep four strikers in the squad during his playing days and argued that the club needs to sign a new forward regardless of what happens with Jesus. Parlour specifically mentioned Julian Alvarez as a perfect option, praising his pace and the quality he showed at Manchester City. In Parlour’s view, bringing in new attacking talent raises standards and reminds the current squad what’s expected of them.
These comments feel especially relevant now that Fabrizio Romano has confirmed Jesus changed agents at the start of 2026. He is expected to weigh up his options this summer, and leaving a year before his contract ends in 2027 looks like a real possibility. During the 2025/26 Premier League season, Jesus has only managed 2 goals and 0 assists in 346 minutes of football, with an average FotMob rating of 6.41. His market value currently sits at €21.9M.
Do Arsenal actually benefit from selling him for so much less than his peak?
Selling Jesus for €21.9M in the summer of 2026 feels more like Arsenal cutting their losses than making a huge profit. Since his contract runs until 2027 and there’s no word on an extension, it makes sense for the club to sell now while he still has some market value. However, Arsenal paid a lot more for him back in 2022, and that ACL injury in January 2025 really messed up his momentum, especially since he’d scored six goals in seven games right before it happened.
Jesus offers a level of pressing and movement that you can’t always see in the stats, but his injury history is hard to ignore. Missing nearly 34% of his career matches through 15 different injuries makes it almost impossible for Arteta to rely on him as a long-term piece. Moving him on and reinvesting in a more reliable player makes sense for the team, even if it’s a tough call to make.
What Arsenal must do before the 2026/27 season begins?
Arsenal head into the summer with a clear pecking order up front, with Viktor Gyokeres established as the main man. Mikel Merino also provides some flexibility as a forward option, giving Arteta plenty of tactical choices. Still, Parlour’s main point is spot on: having just one reliable striker behind Gyokeres isn’t enough for a team trying to win trophies on multiple fronts in 2026/27.
Arsenal need to be aggressive in the market, bring in proven depth, and make sure they don’t start next season with the same gaps that have hurt them in past title races. The Jesus era, for all its bright spots, looks to be reaching its conclusion.
Rohit Sarkar
Rohit Sarkar is a passionate writer with a deep love for multiple sports, but his favourites are football and cricket. Since 2017, he has been covering football and cricket news with a keen eye for detail and compelling storytelling. He is a fan of the beautiful game and a specialist…