Arsenal have confirmed Gabriel Jesus suffered an ACL injury in the FA Cup defeat to Manchester United on Sunday and is set to undergo surgery in the coming days.
An Arsenal statement read: “Further to being substituted during our match with Manchester United on Sunday, Gabriel Jesus has received extensive assessments, scans and specialist reviews which have confirmed that he has sustained an injury to the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.
“Gabby will undergo surgery in the coming days and will soon begin his recovery and rehabilitation programme.
“We will continue to keep everyone updated with Gabby’s recovery, with everyone at the club fully focused on supporting Gabby to ensure he is back to full fitness as soon as possible.”
The injury means Jesus is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines, with the typical recovery time for an ACL rupture around nine months, and leaves Arsenal with only one recognised striker in Kai Havertz.
Sky Sports News understands Arsenal are working hard behind the scenes to recruit a striker in the January transfer window. They were exploring both long-term targets and short-term options even before Jesus’ injury.
The Brazil international had scored six goals across his last seven appearances for Arsenal, who sold striker Eddie Nketiah to Crystal Palace in the summer.
“We are actively looking in the market to improve the squad,” said Arteta earlier this week. “We would be naive not to do that. There is an opportunity to improve the squad.
“We are looking and trying. Let’s see what we are able to do. When you recruit a player there are three parties. We also have our limitations, we can do what we can do.”
When pushed for an answer on whether or not a forward was the priority, he added: “In any position.
Kai Havertz missed chances for Arsenal against Man Utd
“We have other issues as well. A player can bring things to a team in different ways. That is what we are trying 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 out, with fellow forwards Bukayo Saka and Ethan Nwaneri also sidelined currently.
Jesus started the cup tie against United but was forced off after just 41 minutes.
Arsenal continue their Premier League campaign at home to Tottenham on Wednesday, with kick-off at 8pm and free highlights available on Sky Sports’ digital platforms after full-time.
How much will Arsenal miss Jesus?
Sky Sports’ Richard Morgan:
Since swapping Man City for Arsenal in July 2022, Jesus has never managed to sustain a regular run up front for Arteta’s side due to a combination of injuries – including picking up a knee problem at the 2022 World Cup – and lack of goals.
In fact, since making his Arsenal debut, the Brazil international has played 96 of the club’s 132 games in all competitions, which is a rate of 75 per cent.
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Highlights from the Carabao Cup quarter-final between Arsenal and Crystal Palace, with Jesus on the scoresheet
Jesus has never made more than 27 Premier League appearances in a season. Despite an impressive recent run of six goals across his last seven Arsenal appearances, the forward’s highest Premier League goals tally came in his debut campaign in north London, when he scored 11 times – which is also his best total for a campaign.
Jesus’ latest injury has left Arteta’s side without a recognised striker for the Premier League title run-in after they let both Eddie Nketiah join Crystal Palace last summer, while winger Reiss Nelson departed for Fulham on a season-long loan.
Arsenal’s summer business under scrutiny
Sky Sports’ Nick Wright:
Arsenal’s main recruits in the off-season were Mikel Merino and Riccardo Calafiori, with Raheem Sterling arriving later on loan. All three have struggled to make a positive impact, with Merino and Calafiori only making 12 starts each, and Sterling just five.
Injuries have not helped. All three have encountered issues, with Calafiori suffering a new setback which ruled him out on Sunday. But there are question marks hanging over them irrespective of injuries. Were they really what Arsenal needed to go to the next level?
Merino, for example, has brought aerial strength and duel-winning ability to Arsenal’s midfield when it was probably in greater need of creativity and goal threat, especially having sold Emile Smith Rowe to Fulham and allowed Fabio Vieira to join Porto on loan.
Raheem Sterling has struggled to make an impact at Arsenal
The club hoped Sterling might bring those qualities in attack when they took the chance to sign him on loan. But it is damning that Arteta has rarely turned to him, even when he has been fit. Halfway into his spell, he has played a paltry 146 Premier League minutes.
He will likely be needed now, with Jesus having joined the injury list. But, like Merino and Calafiori, he has work to do to show he can give Arsenal and Arteta what they need.
Arteta talked up his “love” of his players in the wake of Sunday’s defeat but it is becoming increasingly obvious the only solutions to their attacking issues lie in the transfer market. The problem is that the January window is far tougher to navigate than the summer one.
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