Mikel Arteta says he has been given no indication as to why Gabriel Jesus was not selected by Brazil and believes the striker – as well as countrymen Gabriel Magalhaes and Gabriel Martinelli – will use the snub as added motivation.
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The Arsenal trio have all started the season in strong form, with summer signing Jesus in particular shining with three goals and three assists in his first six Premier League appearances to become an instant fans’ favourite.
Yet none of the players have made Brazil boss Tite’s latest squad for the final round of friendlies against Ghana and Tunisia before the World Cup begins in November.
Tite made a point of saying that the door is not closed on the players who were omitted from the squad, and Arteta has revealed that Jesus and his fellow snubbed compatriots have already put their heads down and started working even harder to get back in the side.
Asked if he had been given any reason for Jesus not being in the squad, Arteta replied at his pre-Brentford press conference on Friday: ‘I haven’t.
‘What I have to do is try to convince the players that they have to continue to do that – put their head down and accept the decision made by the coach of the national team.
‘And give [Tite] even more reasons if necessary, that it is so evident that they have to be selected.
‘That is the way the boys reacted and there is nothing else to comment.’
All three players were part of Brazil’s squad in June for friendlies against South Korea and Japan, though defender Gabriel Magalhaes was nursing a thigh injury and is still yet to make his international debut.
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Speaking at the time he announced his squad last week, Tite said Jesus ‘is having a great time [at Arsenal] and is absolutely in contention’ though he wanted to explore other options instead.
Liverpool striker Roberto Firmino was recalled to the squad while Matheus Cunha and Flamengo’s Pedro are thought to be the biggest challengers for Jesus’ and Martinelli’s places.
At centre-back, Magalhaes’ biggest competition comes in the form of Serie A defender of the year Gleison Bremer, who was called up for the very first time following his move from Torino to Juventus in the summer.
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