The Latest Arsenal News: Gabriel Jesus will be sidelined for the start of the Premier League season due to a knee injury.
The 26-year-old forward, who had an impressive first campaign with the Gunners, scoring 11 goals in 26 Premier League appearances, was left out of the squad for the Emirates Cup match against Monaco.
After the match, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta confirmed that Jesus had undergone minor knee surgery to resolve discomfort that had been causing issues for the player in recent weeks. Although the injury is not considered major, Arteta expects Jesus to be out for a few weeks.
Arteta expressed his disappointment at losing Jesus just as the player was returning to his best form, particularly after an outstanding performance against Barcelona in a pre-season victory last month. The injury appears to be related to previous knee problems Jesus had experienced, which had also required surgery.
The absence of Jesus will be a significant blow for Arsenal as they prepare for the upcoming season. The Gunners are set to face treble winners Manchester City in the Community Shield on Sunday, followed by their Premier League opener against Nottingham Forest on August 12.
With Jesus unavailable, Arteta may need to reassess his attacking options, but he confirmed that the club’s plans for USMNT forward Folarin Balogun remain unchanged. Arsenal will look to adapt and utilize other players to compensate for Jesus’ absence.
In addition to Jesus, Arteta revealed that Bukayo Saka was not used in the Monaco match due to illness, but the manager hopes Oleksandr Zinchenko will return soon from a calf injury.
As Arsenal aim to start the season on a strong note, the absence of Gabriel Jesus will undoubtedly pose a challenge for the team, but Arteta remains confident in the squad’s ability to adapt and compete without the talented forward.
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