Gabriel Jesus injury: Arsenal confirm striker suffered ACL tear in FA Cup defeat to Man Utd | Football news
Arsenal have confirmed that Gabriel Jesus suffered an ACL injury in Sunday’s FA Cup defeat to Manchester United and will undergo surgery in the coming days.
Arsenal’s statement read: “As well as being substituted during our match against Manchester United on Sunday, Gabriel Jesus underwent extensive assessments, scans and specialist examinations which confirmed that he has suffered an ACL injury in his left knee.
“Gabby will undergo surgery in the coming days and will soon begin her recovery and rehabilitation program.
“We will continue to keep everyone updated on Gabby’s recovery and everyone at the club is fully focused on supporting Gabby to ensure she is back to full fitness as soon as possible.”
The injury means Jesus is set for a lengthy stint on the sidelines, with the typical recovery time for an ACL tear around nine months, leaving Arsenal with just one established striker in Kai Havertz.
Sky Sports News understands Arsenal are working hard behind the scenes to sign the striker in the January transfer window. They were exploring both long-term goals and short-term options even before Jesus’ injury.
The Brazil international has scored six goals in his last seven appearances for Arsenal, who sold striker Eddie Nketiah to Crystal Palace this summer.
“We are actively looking in the market to improve the squad,” Arteta said earlier this week. “We would be naive not to do that. There is an opportunity to improve the team.
“We are looking and trying. Let’s see what we can do. When you sign a player there are three sides. We also have our limitations, we can do what we can.”
When pressed to answer whether a striker is a priority or not, he added: “In any position.
“We have other problems. A player can bring things to the team in different ways. That’s what we try to do.”
Jesus, 27, has seen his Arsenal career blighted by injury since arriving from Manchester City in 2022 and is now set for an extended spell, with fellow strikers Bukayo Saka and Ethan Nwaneri also currently sidelined.
Jesus started the cup game against United but was forced off after just 41 minutes.
Arsenal continue their Premier League campaign on Wednesday at home to Tottenham, with kick-off at 8pm and free highlights available on Sky Sports digital platforms after-hours.
How much will Arsenal miss Jesus?
Sky Sports’ Richard Morgan:
Since swapping Man City for Arsenal in July 2022, Jesus has never been able to sustain a regular attack for Arteta’s side due to a combination of injuries – including a knee problem at the 2022 World Cup – and a lack of goals.
In fact, since making his Arsenal debut, the Brazil international has played in 96 of the club’s 132 games in all competitions, a rate of 75 per cent.
Jesus has never made more than 27 Premier League appearances in a season. Despite an impressive recent run of six goals in his last seven Arsenal appearances, the forward scored the most goals in the Premier League in his debut campaign in north London, netting 11 times – also his best total of the campaign.
Jesus’ latest injury has left Arteta’s side without a big-name striker for the Premier League title race after they let both Eddie Nketiah go to Crystal Palace last summer, while winger Reiss Nelson left for Fulham on a season-long loan.
Arsenal’s summer business under scrutiny
Sky Sports’ Nick Wright:
Arsenal’s main off-season recruits were Mikel Merino and Riccardo Calafioriwith Raheem Sterling arriving later on loan. All three struggled to make a positive impact, with Merino and Calafiori making just 12 starts each and Sterling just five.
Injuries didn’t help. All three encountered problems, with Calafiori suffering another setback that saw him sent off on Sunday. However, question marks hang over them regardless of their injuries. Were they really what Arsenal needed to take them to the next level?
Merino, for example, brought aerial prowess and duel-winning ability to Arsenal’s midfield when it arguably needed more creativity and goal threat, particularly after the sale Emile Smith Rowe Fulham and allowed Fabio Vieira join Porto on loan.
The club were hoping that Sterling could use those attacking qualities when they jumped at the chance to sign him on loan. But it’s damning that Arteta rarely spoke to him, even when he was fit. Halfway through his spell he played a miserable 146 minutes in the Premier League.
He will likely need him now, with Jesus joining the injured list. But, like Merino and Calafiori, he must work to show he can give Arsenal and Arteta what they need.
Arteta spoke of his “love” for his players after Sunday’s defeat, but it is becoming increasingly apparent that the only solutions to their attacks lie in the transfer market. The problem is that the January window is far more difficult to navigate than the summer window.
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