Brazilian teenager Gabriel Jesus’ arrival has seen Sergio Aguero been relegated to the bench at Manchester City. The wonder-kid became an almost instant hit in the Premier League but could he have offered the same against Monaco in the Champion League on Tuesday night? Not quite sure.
He has never featured in the competition before and like it is always being said “experience matters in everything”. Likewise he couldn’t have posed the same threat like Aguero did against the French club.
Gabriel’s injury brought about Aguero’s return to the starting line-up and he did that perfectly with his two goals and an assist – which could help in their quest for a place in the quarter-final- in the thrilling 5-3 win over the Ligue 1 leaders.
Even though Leroy Sane was the stand-out performer, Aguero’s cutting edge proved the difference and it is matches like this that makes him an important commodity for the Sky Blue club.
Of course, the striker has nothing to prove as his records speak perfectly well enough, and he has a reputation and presence that can send fears down the spine of any defender, exactly what is needed at this level of competition and a powerful weapon at that.
Though he has experienced some kind of goal drought in recent times, he has scored 20 goals in 29 appearances this season and a total of 156 goals in 237 games for Man City.
His future at the Etihad stadium has come under scrutiny in recent weeks but it won’t be that easy for Pep Guardiola to completely shove him aside. And they may even have to spend more than the £38m it cost them to bring the 28-year-old forward in from Atletico Madrid in July 2011 if they are to replace him.
As Arsenal are eyeing a summer move for the Argentine, he could be a guaranteed starter for the Gunners.