By Sam Blitz.
Gabriel Jesus has undergone surgery to his right knee after suffering an injury during Brazil’s World Cup group stage match against Cameroon on Friday.
The striker came off for Brazil during the 1-0 defeat in the 64th minute and it was announced that he will miss the rest of the World Cup with a knee problem.
Arsenal confirmed the 25-year-old has already had an operation and is starting his recovery but it is understood the club are not putting a timescale on his return as yet.
An Arsenal statement read: “Gabby will now begin his rehabilitation programme. Everyone at the club is supporting Gabby and will be working hard to get him back on the pitch as soon as possible.”
The news is a problem for Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal, who restart their Premier League campaign on Boxing Day when they host West Ham.
The Gunners have Eddie Nketiah as striker back-up while Gabriel Martinelli can also play in a centre-forward role if required.
Arsenal are currently top of the Premier League table- – five points ahead of their nearest challengers Manchester City – and Jesus started every single game for Arteta’s Gunners from the beginning of the season to the World Cup break.
The impact of Jesus at Arsenal following his £45m move from Manchester City has been clear to see both on and off the pitch.
Many in the Arsenal squad have spoken about how the Brazilian striker and Oleksandr Zinchenko have brought a “winning mentality” from City over the summer – while Jesus, as a centre forward, has been the Gunners’ player for the big moment with five goals and six assists in his opening 14 games.
But with Jesus set for a spell on the sidelines it now falls on Eddie Nketiah to take up the mantle up front. With five goals in seven league games at the end of last season, Nketiah showed that he can start regularly for the Gunners – but he struggled to challenge Jesus for a starting spot before the Brazilian’s injury.
Nketiah has managed three goals in seven non-Premier League games so he hasn’t lost his sharpness, but he is yet to find the net in 12 Premier League games from the bench.
While an impressive Saturday Night Football cameo against Fulham in August – where he played alongside Jesus in a front two – demonstrated the English striker’s ability to impact games, the No 9 position was an area where Arsenal cannot afford to lose their top talent.