MIKEL ARTETA has revealed Gabriel Jesus could be out for longer than initially expected.
The striker suffered a knee injury playing for Brazil at the World Cup.
He underwent surgery on his right knee and was initially expected to be out for three months.
But Arsenal could be without the 25-year-old for even longer, with Arteta revealing the problem is more serious than first thought.
He said: “Hopefully we will have Gabriel back for the final months, it was a serious injury a bit longer than we expected it.
“He is going to do everything he can to make it shorter but we’ll miss him for a while.”
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Jesus has returned to the gym since his injury and is working hard while recuperating.
A video showed the former Manchester City star lifting weights and stretching his injured knee.
To strengthen the injured knee he stepped up onto a gym box, did squats and practiced lifting it up off the ground for a stretch.
But he was also spotted hobbling around the Arsenal training ground in a knee brace.
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Eddie Nketiah has taken Jesus’ place in the team and scored four goals in four games since the World Cup.
Arteta said of the academy graduate: “He’s been patient when he needed to be but as well he’s been with the right mindset and preparing himself for this moment.
“He’s a great finisher, the timing of his runs and the decision-making in waiting until the last moment when the keeper was committed shows his quality.
“His understanding, his work-rate, I think he’s getting better and better.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
