Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has expressed his concern over the injury suffered by striker Gabriel Jesus during the Champions League win over Sevilla on Tuesday. The Brazilian international limped off the pitch in the 80th minute after scoring a brace in the 4-1 victory.
Jesus asks to be substituted
Arteta revealed that Jesus himself asked to be substituted after feeling some discomfort in his knee. The 24-year-old had missed most of the previous season due to a knee injury that required surgery. He had only returned to action in August and had scored six goals in nine games for Arsenal this season.
“He felt something in his knee and he asked to come off,” Arteta said after the match. “It’s not good news because he was in pain and he was struggling to walk. We will have to assess him tomorrow and see what the extent of the injury is.”
Jesus faces lengthy spell on sidelines
According to reports, Jesus could face a lengthy spell on the sidelines if he has damaged his knee ligaments again. He could miss the rest of the season and also jeopardize his chances of playing for Brazil in the World Cup next year. Arteta admitted that losing Jesus would be a huge blow for Arsenal, who are top of the Premier League and have qualified for the knockout stages of the Champions League.
“He’s a very important player for us, he’s been scoring goals and creating chances,” Arteta said. “He’s also a great character and a leader in the dressing room. We hope it’s nothing serious, but we have to prepare for the worst-case scenario.”
Arsenal eye January reinforcements
Arteta also hinted that Arsenal could be active in the January transfer market if Jesus is ruled out for a long time. The Gunners have been linked with several strikers, including Borussia Dortmund’s Erling Haaland, Inter Milan’s Lautaro Martinez and Juventus’ Paulo Dybala. Arteta said that he would discuss with the club’s hierarchy about the possibility of signing a replacement for Jesus.
“We have to be ready for any situation that might happen,” Arteta said. “We have some options in the squad, but we might need to look outside as well. We will talk with Edu [Gaspar, technical director] and Vinai [Venkatesham, chief executive] and see what we can do.”
