Arsenal legend Bacary Sagna has an unexpected Gabriel Jesus comparison

No one could possibly guess who former Arsenal defender Bacary Sagna compared to new signing Gabriel Jesus.

Arsenal’s latest No. 9 joins from fellow Premier League side Manchester City in a deal worth £45 million. According to ESPN, this could rise to £55 million via add-ons.

Jesus became the Gunners’ fourth signing of this summer. He followed goalkeeper Matt Turner, forward Marquinhos, and midfielder Fabio Vieira as Mikel Arteta looks to bolster his squad for a top-four push.

Unsurprisingly, the marquee transfer of Gabriel Jesus has got Arsenal supporters very excited for 2022/23. And they are not alone in this feeling, as former player Bacary Sagna expressed his happiness at the club’s moves.

Bacary Sagna gives approval of Arsenal signing Gabriel Jesus

Speaking to Lord Ping, Bacary Sagna complimented the work of his former team in the transfer window.

“I’m very excited,” said Sagna. “Arsenal FC means a lot to me, so when I see players like him [Gabriel Jesus] join the club, it makes me happy. I know him very well – I played with him at City. He has a fantastic mentality and is a fantastic person.”

The former defender then explained how this transfer was, in his opinion, best for both parties.

“His arrival will benefit the club massively, while he will also know that he is going to Arsenal to be the main man. He will know that he has the full support of the club and manager. This will be different for him because, at City, you never know if you will play the next game.

“I think this will help him improve as a player, and I think he will relish the challenge of being the main man at Arsenal. He is a brilliant signing because he has a winning mentality and is a champion. I can’t wait to see him in an Arsenal shirt this season.”

A unique comparison

When asked if Gabriel Jesus reminded him of any past teammates, the former Arsenal man gave a very unexpected answer to Lord Ping.

“He reminds me of Andre-Pierre Gignac,” revealed Sagna. “Because of his hunger to press, fast-thinking, and competitive edge.

“Gignac was a guy that loved scoring! I honestly can’t believe that he never played for one of the world’s biggest clubs because he had everything on paper.

“Gabriel Jesus has the same qualities,” he continued. “Whenever he plays, he wants to show how good he is. I appreciated his effort in relentlessly pressing the opponent – it gave me a break! As a player, when a teammate demonstrates this level of commitment, it lifts everybody.”

Andre-Pierre Gignac

36-year-old Gignac has had a prolific career that has seen him ply his trade in both Mexico and his homeland of France.

He started his career at Lorient and had a loan spell at Pau FC in 2005/06. Then, the forward moved to Toulouse in July 2007.

In Toulouse, Gignac enjoyed his best scoring season, winning the 2008/09 Ligue 1 golden boot with 24 goals. After three years there, the Frenchman signed for Marseille, where he scored 77 goals in 188 appearances.

Following this, Gignac headed to Central America and signed with Mexico’s Tigres UANL. He has played nearly 300 times for the Mexican side, scoring 168 times. Impressively, the Frenchman is contracted to Tigres until 2024, meaning he could play past his 38th birthday.

A quintessential number nine, Gignac is a pure goal scorer who favours the use of his size and strength. His career goal total stands at 298 in 655 appearances as a result.

Although an unorthodox comparison, Gabriel Jesus can still take Bacary Sagna’s comments as a compliment.

Featured image credit: Getty