Gabriel Jesus injury: Crushing blow for Arsenal as knee op is booked in and reporter reveals Arteta stance on new signing
Arsenal are ready to double their efforts to sign another attacker in January following the news that Gabriel Jesus will require knee surgery and faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines after sustaining the injury while on World Cup duty with Brazil.
The striker moved to Emirates Stadium over the summer in a deal which set the Gunners back around £45m. His excellent form in attack has helped in Arsenal’s climb to the top of the table.
To date, Jesus has five goals and five assists from 14 games, with Mikel Arteta underlining exactly how crucial he is to the Arsenal cause.
Like any team sending their players off to the World Cup, Arsenal will hope all return to their training base unscathed. However, Jesus sustained a knee injury in Brazil’s shock 1-0 defeat to Cameroon on Friday – and was initially ruled out for the remainder of the tournament.
La Selaceo quickly packed the striker off for checks following the injury. And now an MRI scan has revealed Arsenal’s worst fears with Jesus learning he will need an operation to correct the procedure.
As per Spor TV, Jesus will on Sunday afternoon fly back to London with Arsenal eager to get the procedure done as quickly as possible. And they report the 25-year-old faces a minimum of three months on the sidelines to recover from the surgery.
That rules him out of action until at March at the earliest, with his absence leaving a huge void in Arsenal’s attack.
And it leaves Eddie Nketiah as Arsenal’s only senior central striking option, though Gabriel Martinelli could also operate there.
Arteta fancy new signing after Gabriel Jesus injury blow
The Brazilian, though, is thriving on the left wing and Arteta will be loathe to move him.
Arteta also has the option of recalling Folarin Balogun from his loan with Stade Reims. The 21-year-old has eight goals 15 appearances in Ligue 1, with Thierry Henry recently talking up his credentials.
However, all signs point to Arteta making another attacking signing. To that end, TEAMtalk has already revealed why Arsenal will back Arteta with transfer funds in January with at least two players wanted.
One name at the very top of their wanted list is Ukrainian winger Mykhaylo Mudryk.
The 21-year-old has impressed during his Champions League outings this season, having five goal involvements in six games. However, Shakhtar Donetsk are seeking an enormous fee approaching £87m for the winger.
That fee certainly looks above Arsenal, though a bid for far less may yet be launched.
Either way, CBS reporter Ben Jacobs claims Arteta is yet to make up his mind over a move for Mudryk.
“Arsenal believe that the player wants them, but Mikel Arteta hasn’t yet made up his mind,” Jacobs told Givemesport.
“Although he likes the player and Arsenal would like to strengthen in that position, it is still a hefty price to pay.”
Arteta is undoubtedly keen on Mudryk, but Edu reportedly feels a fee in the region of £40m is more accurate.
Newcastle are also reportedly keen on the winger. As such, Arsenal will decide in the coming weeks whether to launch an official bid.
That said, news of Jesus’ injury may well force their hand.
