Pundit claims City sold Jesus to Arsenal because Guardiola ‘doesn’t see them as a threat’

Jason Soutar
Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus celebrates his goal

Roy Keane believes Manchester City have sold players to Chelsea and Arsenal because they will not challenge them or Liverpool for the Premier League title this season.

The Gunners spent a combined £75million on Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko this summer, who joined after winning the Premier League for the second consecutive season in 2021/22.


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Chelsea, on the other hand, brought in Raheem Sterling – who scored 131 goals for the Citizens – for around £47.5m.

It has been a wonderful pre-season for Arsenal, who capped off their friendly schedule with a convincing 6-0 win over Sevilla in the Emirates Cup on Saturday.

Jesus made his Emirates Stadium debut for the club and marked the occasion with a hat-trick.

Despite the Gunners’ positive results this summer, former Manchester United captain Keane insists the Londoners are not a “threat” to Premier League pacesetters City or Liverpool.

While some have questioned why City boss Pep Guardiola would let three important players join top-four rivals, despite Erling Haaland and Kalvin Phillips’ arrival, Keane believes that Guardiola’s judgement should be trusted.

“I wouldn’t doubt Pep’s opinion on players,” Keane said on ITV (quotes via Metro). “He works with them closely, you’ve got to keep moving on, you’ve got to freshen things up.

“They’ve got good money for these players, who have been brilliant players for Manchester City. Jesus has really done well the last few months, Sterling’s stats are fantastic, but with Haaland coming in, Pep’s probably thinking he wants to keep a hungry squad, that’s the name of the game.

“He probably, at this moment in time with the money that came in, doesn’t see these clubs – certainly Arsenal – as a threat.

“The big worry at the moment is trying to keep ahead of Liverpool. Liverpool and Manchester City are so far ahead of the other teams, he thought it’s worth a gamble.”

Arsenal legend Ian Wright agreed with his ITV colleague, insisting that City are “not worried” about what Chelsea and the Gunners will do this season.

“Man City are able to pass those players on, whether it’s to Chelsea, a direct competitor, or Arsenal trying to be a direct competitor because they’re not worried about people or what they can do,” said Wright.

“They’re not worried about Jesus or Sterling going. Good luck to them. They’re looking at what they’re doing. What they’ve done with a striker is an upgrade massively.”