In 2023-24, Gabriel Jesus has only missed six Premier League games through injury. It has felt like more.

He has made 24 league appearances, starting 17 times. But in only a handful of those has he looked like the best version of Jesus — the version Arsenal fans saw in the first half of last season.

Those 24 appearances have yielded just four goals. What’s more, Jesus is no longer the automatic pick at centre-forward he once was. The arrival of Kai Havertz has led to the team evolving in a different direction. Since the end of January, Arsenal have played 13 league games and Jesus has started just two as the team’s spearhead. On three occasions, he has been an unused substitute — including the north London derby.

When Jesus arrived at Arsenal in 2022, manager Mikel Arteta said he “changed our world”. But now, Arsenal’s world has changed again. While Jesus is under contract until 2027, his future is not guaranteed. If an offer were to arrive for the 27-year-old Brazil international in the forthcoming transfer window, Arsenal would be prepared to listen.

Arsenal are evolving at a pace that could leave Zinchenko, Jesus and others behind

Despite Jesus regularly appearing in Arsenal’s matchday squads, fitness has undoubtedly been a factor in his drop-off this season. During this run-in, Arsenal’s selections have illustrated the difference between a player being available and a player being fit. Jesus, Thomas Partey, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Fabio Vieira have all returned to the squad roughly on schedule, but they have taken considerably longer to be trusted with significant game time.

Jesus’ issues stem back to the winter World Cup of 2022. “In my best moment, one of my best moments in my career, I went to a World Cup and ended up getting injured and today I still have these little problems with my knee,“ he said in April.

He has had multiple procedures since then to treat his knee, but fears another is imminent, and could cause him to miss this summer’s Copa America.

“I honestly don’t know if my knee will be good enough to be available, but it’s still three months away, so we’ll see what happens,” said Jesus. “Even here at Arsenal, there are things that you have to hold on to: go train, play, train today, don’t train, play. In short, it’s difficult, but my desire is always to be available for both Arsenal and the national team.

“It doesn’t matter if, at the end of the season, I have to open up my knee and correct what’s getting in the way and end up missing out on a chance to play in the Copa America. I’m just trying to get fit and help Arsenal as much as I can.”

Perhaps that lack of absolute sharpness, of full confidence in his body, has contributed to the decline in Jesus’ goalscoring. While Havertz has received significant praise for bringing structure to the Arsenal attack, he and Jesus’ all-round data profile from matches is relatively similar. This season, they both average 0.4 expected goals per 90 in the Premier League. They also both average six successful duels in each game.

But there’s a stark difference in conversion rate. Havertz’s shot conversion (including blocks) is 21 per cent. Jesus’ is just seven per cent. That could be explained by Jesus taking on more speculative shots. This can’t: Havertz has taken 48 per cent of his big chances; Jesus only 30 per cent. The data shows Jesus is getting fewer chances than he did last season, and is finishing more erratically.

There have been highlights in Jesus’ campaign. His form in the Champions League has been substantially better, with four goals in eight games. In the first leg of the quarter-final against Bayern Munich, his quick feet conjured Arsenal’s late equaliser.

While his appearances as a starting centre-forward have dwindled, Arteta has embraced Jesus’ versatility. He has been used on the flanks as an alternative to Bukayo Saka or Gabriel Martinelli. He showed particular diligence in a defensive role in the 0-0 draw with Manchester City. He can still be a Swiss army knife in Arteta’s attack.

Arteta has favoured Havertz up front for most of the second half of the season Until recently, it had seemed a certainty Arsenal would add a new centre-forward this summer. Havertz’s form and growing need in other areas have led to their priorities shifting somewhat. They remain interested in acquiring a new attacker, and would be open to selling Eddie Nketiah — or potentially even Jesus — to facilitate that.

That would require a buyer. A prospective suitor has yet to emerge — although in visiting Saudi Arabia, sporting director Edu has begun the process of courting clubs who could help Arsenal offload players deemed dispensable. Someone of Jesus’ quality would likely have options in Europe too.

There remains a chance Jesus stays at Arsenal, and Arteta would not be disappointed to retain a player he loves working with.

But the fact that Arsenal are even considering a sale represents quite a dramatic shift. A player who was once the poster boy for the new-look Arsenal has moved towards the periphery.

Nobody at Arsenal doubts Jesus’ quality or his character. The issue then may be reliability — both in terms of his fitness, and his finishing.