Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus has been out of action for almost a year after suffering a cruciate ligament injury back in January, but he is back scoring goals behind closed doors
Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus is back scoring goals in training as Mikel Arteta faces a selection headache ahead of the north London derby. The Brazilian suffered a cruciate ligament injury in an FA Cup match against Manchester United back in January.
Since then, Jesus has been on a lengthy road to recovery. Now, almost a year later, the 28-year-old appears closer than ever to returning to Arteta’s matchday squad, as highlighted by the footage shared by Arsenal on social media of Jesus finding the back of the net repeatedly during a training session.
Jesus returned to training ahead of the Gunners’ Premier League draw with Sunderland earlier this month. At the time, Arteta was asked when he thought the striker would be able to make his first appearance in an Arsenal shirt since the serious injury.
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“I don’t know,” Arteta admitted earlier this month. “Now it’s about making the steps day by day in a different surrounding.
“Obviously, he’s been doing everything on his own; now he’s got players around him, very competitive players around him, and see how he copes with that.
“But he’s full of energy, I love the reaction of all his teammates when he first joined us and yeah, great to have him back.”
Jesus certainly appeared full of energy in the footage shared on Arsenal’s official X account on Tuesday afternoon. The Brazilian could be seen beating players, creating space and finishing from various angles, which will have certainly sent a clear message to Arteta – he’s eager to get back on the pitch as soon as possible.
Despite the striker looking sharp in training, the question remains whether Jesus will be able to fulfil a full 90 minutes. Various reports suggest Jesus’ expected return date is around mid-December.
This could still provide a significant boost for Arteta during the busy festive period. The Gunners have eight matches in December, including six Premier League fixtures, one Champions League match, and a Carabao Cup quarter-final against Crystal Palace.
Jesus has been forced to deal with several injuries throughout his career. He suffered a knee injury early in his Arsenal spell, which sidelined him for 100 days, while further knee and hamstring problems have seen him unavailable.
The Brazilian’s contract at the Emirates Stadium expires in 2027, and he will be hoping he can enjoy an injury-free second half to the season with the Gunners before making a decision on his future.
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