- Arsenal forward Gabriel Jesus is set to miss the start of this coming season
- Jesus was ruled out of Arsenal’s pre-season victory over Monaco on Wednesday
- Gunners manager Mikel Arteta has confirmed the striker has undergone knee surgery
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has confirmed that Gabriel Jesus has undergone knee surgery and will miss the start of the upcoming season. Jesus had already missed 15 games last season due to a knee injury sustained during the World Cup. Recently, he was ruled out of a friendly victory over Monaco after experiencing ‘irritation’ in the same knee.
Arteta revealed that the surgery took place that morning, and although it is not a major procedure, Jesus is expected to be sidelined for a few weeks. This setback is a blow for the team as they had seen him return to his best form, particularly in his impressive performance against Barcelona. However, the decision to undergo surgery was made to protect the player and facilitate a speedy recovery.
The current injury is related to his previous knee issue, which required surgery before. The discomfort in his knee prompted the need for this recent procedure to resolve the problem. Despite the setback, Arteta remains optimistic about Jesus’ return to full fitness in the future.
Arsenal forward Gabriel Jesus will miss the Premier League opener with a knee injury with manager Mikel Arteta confirming the player has undergone surgery. | PHOTO: Sky Sports |
READ: Mikel Arteta warns Gabriel Jesus to earn his Arsenal place
During Jesus’ absence, Eddie Nketiah started in his place and managed to score Arsenal’s only goal in the match. Notably, Folarin Balogun, the United States international, was not included in the squad due to a minor injury. Balogun had an impressive loan spell at Stade Reims last season, scoring 21 goals in Ligue 1. Throughout the summer, he has been linked with a move away from Arsenal, with Inter being one of the interested parties. However, it appears that Inter is now focused on securing a more affordable deal for West Ham United’s Gianluca Scamacca.
Arteta clarified that Jesus’ injury has not affected their plans for Balogun, and they will continue with their original strategy. The manager emphasized that they have other options in the team, each offering different qualities, so they will adapt accordingly.
Arsenal is reportedly seeking around £50 million for Balogun, but Inter’s pursuit seems to have shifted towards a deal for Scamacca instead. As the transfer window progresses, it remains to be seen if any concrete offers will be made for Balogun and how Arsenal will handle the situation going forward. For now, they will focus on supporting Gabriel Jesus in his recovery and preparing the team for the upcoming campaign without him.
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