Gabriel Jesus has offered a blunt assessment of Arsenal’s chances this season, telling Rio Ferdinand he is fully behind the club’s pursuit of silverware. Asked by Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand about how he felt regarding Arsenal’s title-winning chances, Jesus replied: “Very confident, very confident.

“We are in a good place and we have an amazing squad. Not just the players who play most of the games but the whole squad. I believe 100% that this season we are doing something.”

Those words arrive as Arsenal sit top of the Premier League by nine points, with rivals Man City holding a game in hand. Mikel Arteta’s side have also progressed to the Champions League quarterfinals and are set to reach the FA Cup semifinal should they beat Southampton on Saturday. The recent Wembley defeat to Man City was a reminder of the margin for error and of the club’s hunger; Arsenal have not won a major trophy since the FA Cup in 2020.

Jesus singled out Declan Rice as a driving force behind Arsenal’s rise. “He’s the type of player who can do everything. He can defend, he can create, he can shoot … he’s an amazing player,” enthused the Brazilian. He drew comparisons and highlighted Rice’s distinctive role in the team. “He’s different from Rodri because Declan is playing as a No. 8 now. I can compare him a little bit with Fernandinho. Fernandinho defended better than him I think but Declan gets forward, we call him ‘The Horse’ because when he gets going you can’t stop him.

“He’s amazing, really amazing. Look at his character as well, he was born to be a leader. I really appreciate him as a person and as a player.”

Jesus also paid tribute to Bukayo Saka, arguing the winger’s talent places him in the same bracket as top Brazilian wide players such as Raphinha and Vinicius Junior, even if Saka’s season has not matched his highest standards.

Arsenal have held direct contact over Bayer Leverkusen forward Christian Kofane, his agent says, with the club’s interest described as genuine as the summer transfer window approaches. The 19-year-old Cameroon international started both legs of Leverkusen’s Champions League round of 16 defeat to Arsenal, a tie that has brought him to wider attention.

Sky Sport Germany’s Florian Plettenburg identified Arsenal and Real Madrid among clubs “monitoring” Kofane. Agent Eric Depolo spoke to Daily Arsenal about the player’s situation and the prospect of a move to the Emirates Stadium.

Depolo is quoted as saying “Arsenal’s interest is genuine” and that Mikel Arteta “likes [Kofane] very much.” On negotiations he added: “There is contact between me and Arsenal . But their focus right now is to win the league—from there everything will start moving.”

The agent also listed several clubs likely to compete for Kofane’s signature, naming Chelsea, Newcastle, Everton and Brentford from the Premier League, alongside Barcelona and Bayern Munich. Depolo went further, saying “Arsenal are in pole position” to sign Kofane, citing factors such as speaking Spanish like Arteta and William Saliba’s Cameroonian heritage.

Estimates of Kofane’s value vary widely. The original Sky Sport Germany report put an upper valuation at $80.7 million (€70 million, £61.1 million) for a player viewed as long-term potential rather than a proven impact signings. Depolo has quoted a significantly higher figure, giving an agent valuation of $115.3 million.

The agent’s comments confirm active interest and contact but also make clear Arsenal’s immediate priority remains on the title race, with transfer movement dependent on how the season finishes.

Luiz Henrique has openly put Arsenal on notice after his role in Brazil’s goal during the March friendly with France. The Brazil forward, introduced as a substitute, spoke directly about a potential move to the Premier League leaders and highlighted what he admires about the club.

“I really like Arsenal,” Henrique gushed to Flashscore , “the way they play, aggressive. They play a lot on the left and right, so I’m keen to play for Arsenal.

“I’ve already spoken to Gabriel Magalhães and Gabriel Martinelli, they say the team is excellent, they really like Arteta, they say he’s always listening to the players. God willing, I’d like to have the opportunity to work with him.”

Henrique is a left-footer capable of playing anywhere across the frontline, although he prefers cutting onto his strong side from the right flank. That versatility could be significant for Arsenal. The club already has two of the Premier League’s best left-footed right wingers competing for the same role, yet Henrique could offer an alternative if he were deployed as a left winger.

There are signs Arsenal might seek a fresh outlet on the left. One analyst quoted in The Athletic described the threat: “You don’t mind them attacking down their left.” The only danger was conceding a corner which Declan Rice would take.

Within Arsenal’s current options, Leandro Trossard has five Premier League goals and as many assists this season. Gabriel Martinelli, by contrast, has struggled for domestic consistency; he has scored just one top-flight goal all term and registered fewer direct goal contributions than Arsenal’s right back, Jurriën Timber. Martinelli’s route into the first team was unconventional, having been signed from Brazil’s third tier, a reminder that Arsenal have previously recruited from outside the usual markets.

Henrique plies his trade in the Russian Premier League, a competition Opta ranks 23rd in the world, roughly comparable to the second tiers of Spain (20th) and Germany (25th). Even so, it is not as though Henrique is exactly tearing apart this inferior opposition.