Arsenal’s Manager, Mikel Arteta, has recently confirmed that striker Gabriel Jesus will be out of action for the initial “few weeks” of the 2023-24 season. This comes as he undergoes recovery from recent knee surgery.
After being prominently featured in Arsenal’s recent tour of the USA, the 26-year-old forward was absent during Wednesday’s Emirates Cup victory against Monaco. The Gunners announced that he was undergoing evaluation for a knee injury.
In place of Gabriel Jesus, Eddie Nketiah led the attacking line and managed to equalize Monaco, eventually leading to a 5-4 penalty shootout victory for Arsenal.
Gabriel Jesus Knee Surgery and Setback
In a post-game interview, Arteta disclosed that Jesus underwent knee surgery on Wednesday morning due to issues stemming from a previous knee injury. This injury had previously sidelined him for three months following the 2022 World Cup.
Arteta explained, “Unfortunately, he underwent a minor procedure this morning. He was experiencing discomfort in his knee, causing problems, and the decision was made to address it. While not a major issue, he’ll likely be out for a few weeks.”
The manager elaborated that the discomfort was linked to the previous injury and the associated surgery. The decision to proceed with surgery was taken to ensure a swift recovery and to safeguard the player’s well-being.
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Impact on Upcoming Matches
Gabriel Jesus’s absence will affect Arsenal’s forthcoming matches. He will miss the Community Shield clash with Manchester City and is expected to sit out the initial Premier League games against Nottingham Forest, Crystal Palace, and Fulham.
During the Brazilian striker’s absence last season, Nketiah, Trossard, and Martinelli effectively handled attacking duties. Arteta also mentioned the potential option of Folarin Balogun, who had an impressive loan spell at Reims.
Other Injury Updates
Arteta provided additional injury updates, noting that Albert Sambi Lokonga, Reiss Nelson, and Oleksandr Zinchenko are currently dealing with muscle, toe, and calf issues, respectively. However, he expressed optimism about Zinchenko’s speedy return to action.
Bukayo Saka, an England attacker, was spared from playing on Wednesday due to illness, according to Arteta.
While Gabriel Jesus’s injury is a setback for Arsenal, Arteta emphasized the team’s adaptability and the availability of various playing options. As the new season kicks off, Arsenal’s supporters eagerly await the return of their talented striker and the team’s performance in the upcoming matches.
