EXCLUSIVE
Darren Bent reveals why he’d start Romelu Lukaku over Gabriel Jesus at Arsenal
Romelu Lukaku would score more goals leading Arsenal's line than first choice striker Gabriel Jesus.
That is the opinion of ex-Tottenham centre-forward Darren Bent, who believes the Belgium international is a more natural no.9.
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It remains to be seen where Lukaku will be playing his football next season when he returns to Chelsea from his loan spell at Inter Milan.
Hailed by former boss Roberto Martinez as one of the game's greatest goalscorers, the 30-year-old has found the back of the net just 14 times in 35 matches this term.
Still, that is better than what Jesus managed in his opening campaign at the Emirates Stadium, where he scored 11 goals in 33 games in all competitions.
And Arsenal fan Bent has insisted he would take Lukaku over Jesus any day of the week.
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When asked by Andy Goldstein whether he would take Lukaku at Arsenal, Bent said on Drive: "Yes. Without a doubt."
Pressed whether that would mean offloading Jesus, Bent stated: "No, I'm not getting rid of anyone, but I'd have him."
Questioned whether he would start Lukaku over the Brazilian, the former Sunderland star remarked: "Do you know what? He would get us more goals than Gabriel Jesus.
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"What Gabriel Jesus did at Arsenal [this season] was brilliant, but there were times he would frustrate me because he wasn't in the box enough.
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"There were times the ball would flash across the box and no one was in there - he's on the edge of the box. But Lukaku, I know he's in there."
Bent then admitted he would try and work both of them in the starting XI if he could - shunting Jesus out wide - just like what Pep Guardiola did at Manchester City.
He added: "I'd start Gabriel Jesus on the left potentially."
Conceding that would mean Gabriel Martinelli would then be benched, Bent said: "Maybe, one or the other. It's a squad game.
"But I would start Lukaku down the middle over Gabriel Jesus."
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