Source: Twitter
Arsenal and Brazil forward Gabriel Jesus set to miss start of 2023-24 Premier League after suffering a knee injury. Jesus was out of his squad for Arsenal’s Emirates Cup game against Monaco because the striker was facing injury issues. Jesus, who missed a big portion of last season’s Premier League campaign following a knee injury during the World Cup, will also miss a few weeks this season. This means he is definitely out of contention for the season’s opening game against Nottingham Forest as well as the FA Community Shield final against Manchester City on August 6.
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Gunners' manager Mikel Arteta stated that Jesus had a procedure done on his knee which left him with some discomfort. Not wanting to take any risks, Arsenal have decided to rest him for a few weeks so he can return without issues. It is thought that Jesus was rushed too soon last season from his knee injury with the team pushing for the Premier League title.
With the new season not even underway yet, Arteta will no doubt be more cautious with his players. Arteta said, “Unfortunately he had a little procedure this morning. He’s had some discomfort in his knee that caused him some issues so they had to go in. He’s going to be out for a few weeks.”
Who will replace Jesus in the starting eleven?
While Jesus will no doubt be a big miss, Arsenal have at least three more than-capable backups. The obvious first choice is Eddie Nketiah, who started the Emirates Cup game and scored. The academy product filled in for Jesus last year and scored two critical goals against Manchester United.
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Another option is Folarin Balogun, who went on loan to Reims last season in Ligue 1 and scored more than 20 goals. The English-American has told Arsenal management that he wants to either be sold this summer or given first-team opportunities, and Jesus’s injury might be an opportunity for the young player to prove his worth to the club.
Finally, Leandro Trossard can be an option for that role. While not a traditional striker, Trossard was deployed in the role last season by Arteta in a false 9-esque position where he would drop deeper into midfield and allow Saka and Martinelli to invert from the wings.
