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Mikel Arteta updates on plans for Jesus return from injury.
Mikel Arteta is anxious to highlight that Arsenal will not “rush” Gabriel Jesus back into action after seeing him sit out three months through injury.
While serving as a World Cup representative for Brazil in 2022, the player unluckily had a knee issue, necessitating surgery.
He hasn’t played a single minute for the Gunners since November 12, although he did return to full training before the Premier League leaders’ 2-2 draw with Sporting in the Europa League’s round of 16.
Jesus was not included in Arsenal’s matchday squad for the outing in Portugal, with Arteta telling football London afterwards on when the 25-year-old striker could be seen again: “We will try not to rush him back. We will try to make a fair assessment between what he needs and when is comfortable and as well giving the team a boost that it’s going to need in the next few weeks for sure.
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Everything is going well, he needs time as well to get himself that confidence and that physical state that is necessary to compete with a free mind and once he’s free to do that, we will throw him in.”
Jesus, who has scored five goals for the Gunners so far in his rookie season, participated in the post-game warm-down following Arsenal’s thrilling 3-2 victory against Bournemouth, which left them five points ahead at the top of the Premier League standings.
Since Eddie Nketiah also sustained an injury recently, Arsenal has been forced to utilize Gabriel Martinelli as a No. 9 and will return to domestic play on Sunday as they travel just a short distance across London to face Fulham.