Arsenal has warned of a ‘major problem’ player who ‘has to step up’ amid a difficult era.

Gabby Agbonlahor has told Arsenal that Gabriel Jesus is currently a “big problem” owing to his lack of production, and that the forward “needs to step up” amid injuries to other key players.

Jesus is in his third season with the Gunners and has had a solid first two seasons. Indeed, the Brazilian has 19 goals and 15 assists in 79 appearances since joining the club.

However, none of those have arrived this season, and Agbonlahor believes this is a concern for Arsenal, especially with other big-name players out.

“I believe they have a serious problem with Gabriel Jesus. “His form, he hasn’t scored or assisted in ten appearances this season,” Agbonlahor told talkSPORT.

“In his debut season, 2022/23, he scored 11 goals and assisted seven times. Last season, in 36 games, he had eight goals and eight assists, which is not terrible.

“But this season, no goals, no assists. When players are injured or unavailable, they start [Raheem] Sterling ahead of him, as well as other players. [In the Champions League], he wasn’t fantastic again, and was replaced by Sterling.

“They need Gabriel Jesus up to form, especially with your little injuries to [Martin] Odegaard and to [Bukayo] Saka, he needs to step up.”

Saka has missed two games and manager Mikel Arteta is doubtful whether he will be ready to return for Arsenal’s next match. With both men out, the club needs contributions from others, and Jesus, who has not failed to score more than 15 goals in any of his first two seasons, has to return to that level.

Arsenal lost 2-0 at Bournemouth without both of the aforementioned stars, and other players’ performances could have saved them from an embarrassing defeat.