Darren Bent has told Gabriel Jesus that he may struggle to get back into the Arsenal line-up ahead of Eddie Nketiah. The forward has so far delivered in place of the injured Brazil star.
Mikel Arteta is awaiting Jesus’ return to fitness after requiring surgery on his knee injury in December. The attacker suffered medial ligament damage at the World Cup and is unlikely to return until, at least, February. His absence came as a huge blow to the Gunners’ hopes.
Jesus had enjoyed a transformative effect on Arteta’s frontline after he moved to Emirates Stadium from Manchester City for £45m. Their summer signing brought together Arsenal’s attack with Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli to create a table-topping squad this season.
While Jesus had gone six Premier League fixtures without a goal before flying to Qatar, the 59-cap star’s dogged approach made space for Saka and Martinelli. The Brazilian has also penned five goals and six assists over his 14 top-flight appearances under Arteta this term.
Nketiah has since come in and delivered goals to help Arsenal beat West Ham United and Brighton & Hove Albion. He also scored twice as the Gunners eliminated Oxford United in the FA Cup. But Newcastle United had kept the 23-year-old from scoring in their 0-0 draw.
Bent backs Nketiah to make Jesus fight for his Arsenal role once back from injury
Nketiah’s four goals in as many games since the World Cup and Arsenal lost Jesus to injury has impressed Bent. So much so that the former Tottenham Hotspur striker feels he would start ahead of the Brazilian if both forwards were fit for this Sunday’s north London derby.
“Oh, Eddie has to start, 100 per cent,” Bent told talkSPORT. “It depends because if Eddie keeps scoring goals and Arsenal maintain where they are, then Jesus is going to have to get himself back into the team.”
Bent also believes Nketiah’s goals since replacing Jesus have shown Arsenal may not need to sign a striker in January. He feared the Gunners may collapse after the Brazilian’s injury but the former England U21 forward has proven he can deliver when Arteta needs him to.
“I think the rush maybe isn’t as imminent as it was,” Bent continued. “I think when Gabriel Jesus got injured, people were like: ‘Panic stations. What are we going to do? Arsenal are going to fall off’.
“He’s just gone, ‘you know what, hold on a second’. And fair play to Arteta, as well, by the way because he’s gone, ‘you know what, you’re my number nine’.”
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