Arsenal have been dealt a huge blow in their bid for a first Premier League title since 2004 with the news that Gabriel Jesus has undergone knee surgery.
The Brazilian forward limped off for Brazil in their group stage dead-rubber with Cameroon last Friday with a suspected medial ligament damage just after the hour mark – though it had been hoped that he would only be out for around a month.
Arsenal released a statement, saying: ‘Gabriel Jesus has successfully undergone surgery to his right knee after suffering an injury during the Brazil v Cameroon World Cup group stage match on Friday. 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.’
Jesus’ knee surgery means Arsenal having to endure an extended spell without the Brazilian, whom they signed from Manchester City in the summer for £45m and has been instrumental in their march to the top of the league.
While the goals have dried up since his explosive start, he remained influential in their overall play – notching assists against Nottingham Forest and Liverpool.
The injury opens up the possibility of Arsenal entering the market in search of a centre-forward. Currently, having let AlexandreLacazette go in the summer, they only have Eddie Nketiah as back up to Jesus.
Nketiah, while impressive at the back end of last term, has struggled for minutes this season and has often looked shorn of match sharpness when he has been given a rare opportunity to deputise for the Brazilian.
MykhayloMudryk, the Ukrainian wide-player who plays for Shakhtar Donetsk, had been a reported target for competition in wide areas.
Jesus’ selection for Tite’s squad for the 2022 World Cup was met by some adverse reaction by supporters in Brazil, with Flamengo supporters in particular questioning his place in the squad over Gabriel Barbosa. –Mailsports
