So, Gabriel Jesus is injured for Arsenal.
Even though he hasn’t been scoring in the Premier League, Jesus’ all-round performances for the Gunners have been influential to say the least.
And with Arsenal top of the Premier League standings, well it’s no coincidence that the former Manchester City hitman has played a major role in that.
However, he is injured now and according to one unconfirmed report, as covered by HITC Sport, he could be absent for as long as three months.
It’s a massive blow for Arsenal if that’s true and worryingly, Mikel Arteta hasn’t got a ready-made covering option.
Well, he has Eddie Nketiah but having scored no goals in 12 Premier League outings this season, is the Hale End product the right player to help keep the North Londoners in the title race until March or whenever Jesus is available again?
Arguably not.
The sad thing is that really, this was avoidable.
Instead of releasing Nketiah last summer and signing a more accomplished goalscorer, Arteta gave the 23-year-old a new £100,000-a-week contract [The Sun] – and the number 14 shirt.
Yes, Nketiah had been playing reasonably well toward at the end of last season and scored a double away to Chelsea.
But still, that wasn’t enough of a contribution to give him a massive pay rise and new contract.
The truth is that Arsenal should’ve signed Jesus and another number nine last summer, someone more lethal than Nketiah.
If the Gunners’ domestic form declines now, coinciding with Nketiah starting more Premier League games, and they blow their five-point cushion over Manchester City, Arteta must take responsibility for it.
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