Pep Guardiola responds to rumours linking Gabriel Jesus with transfer from Man City to Arsenal

Pep Guardiola was keen to stress Gabriel Jesus is ‘a players of ours’ when asked about reports linking the Manchester City attacker with a summer move to Arsenal.

Several stories emerged on Friday night claiming the Brazilian could complete a transfer to the capital this summer, a day before Jesus scored four in City’s 5-1 win over Watford at the Etihad.

It’s a result that moves the Sky Blues four points clear of Liverpool in the table, with Jurgen Klopp’s men in action on Sunday when they host Everton in the Premier League.

But following the win over Watford, Guardiola was quizzed on the future of City’s No.9 and, while full of praise for Jesus, explained that potential departures are a subject which will be addressed once the season is over.

“Gabriel is a player of ours. I don’t know what is going to happen but he belongs to Manchester City,” the Catalan told reporters in his post-match press conference.

“Gabriel doesn’t need to perform like today and score four goals to know what to do. Against Liverpool in the FA Cup he had two clear chances and missed. The goal Jack [Grealish] scored, he made.

“He is always thinking about what is best for the team and the movements. When he has nights like today, I am the happiest man in the world.

“What we have done this season we have done with Gabriel,” he continued. “But every player here is happy when they play all the time, 90 minutes every game.

“Maybe at the end of the season he signs a contract and we convince him to stay, maybe he decides he wants to leave. Now, I don’t care. Now it’s focus.

“We have seven games, maybe eight games until the end of the season. We have less than one month. That is all and that is all my concern.

I know that all the players who played today, and all the players who played against Brighton [on Wednesday], are going to do everything in every single game to win. Nobody knows what is going to happen, that’s why it is not a big problem.”