ARSENAL are taking 14 first-teamers in a 27-man squad for the Dubai Super Cup as the Premier League leaders prepare to resume their season.
But boss Mikel Arteta’s plans have been overshadowed by Brazil striker Gabriel Jesus possibly facing three months out with a knee injury suffered at the World Cup.
But Emile Smith Rowe and Kieran Tierney have shaken off their own early-season fitness problems and are among the big names travelling to the UAE for the Gunners’ warm-weather training.
Martin Odegaard, Fabio Vieira and Gabriel Magalhaes add to a powerful-looking party who face Lyon on December 8 and AC Milan five days later.
But the focus is on Jesus, who is flying back from Qatar to be assessed by Arsenal’s own medics.
The £45million summer recruit from Manchester City has already been ruled out for four weeks.
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But if his right knee needs surgery then another two months could be added to the 25-year-old’s lay-off.
Brazil boss Tite furiously dismissed he was aware of an injury problem with Jesus before starting him in Friday’s 1-0 loss to Cameroon.
Tite said: “I don’t like evil lies, and at no time whatsoever did we play for a victory at the risk of a peril to a player.
“Arsenal have a great medical department, Brazil has a great medical department and we are personally responsible and ethical.”
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Jesus’ former Etihad team-mate Oleksandr Zinchenko is in the Gunners’ squad for the UAE, ahead of the Prem restarting at Christmas.
Without Arsenal players still at the World Cup, Arteta has called in several youngsters.
Those starlets include three goalkeepers – Karl Hein, Hubert Graczyk and James Hillson.
That’s because England back-up stopper Aaron Ramsey is, of course, still in Qatar and Matt Turner’s USA were only eliminated on Saturday.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
