Chris Sutton believes Arsenal may have to sign a striker in January if Gabriel Jesus will miss a large chunk of the season. The Brazil forward suffered an injury whilst at the World Cup.
Selecao boss Tite seldom utilised Jesus during the South American nation’s early efforts at Qatar 2022. But Brazil brought Jesus into the line-up for their final Group G fixture against Cameroon. However, he would sustain a knee problem and come off after just 64 minutes.
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Arsenal soon sent Jesus for surgery to start his recovery from a knee injury in a major blow for Mikel Arteta’s side. Football.london reports that the £45m forward will not return until at least February as he sustained medial ligament damage. But a return date is undefined.
Now losing Jesus for a large chunk of the season will have huge consequences on Arsenal’s campaign. The forward has had a transformative effect on Arteta’s team since joining from Manchester City in July. Even if he did not score in his last six Premier League appearances.
From the off, Jesus has given Arsenal far more than either Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang or Alexandre Lacazette offered last season. The 25-year-old’s dogged style is the life of their attacks and he draws defenders out of position to free Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli.
Sutton backs Arsenal to target a striker transfer due to Jesus’ knee injury
Jesus further offered five goals and six assists through his 14 Premier League appearances for Arsenal so far. Only Martin Odegaard (6) has outscored the Brazilian and his compatriot Martinelli so far this term at the Gunners. While only England star Saka matches his assists.
Arteta will now have to rely on Eddie Nketiah to step up and deliver in Jesus’ place. But the 23-year-old has neither scored nor assisted a single goal so far this season through his 12 appearances. Each of Nketiah’s games, totalling just 140 minutes, have been off the bench.
So, Sutton expects Arsenal will now have to target a striker in the January transfer window if Arteta is to be without Jesus for a lengthy part of the season due to the Brazilian’s injury.
“There isn’t a more significant player they could have lost to injury than Gabriel Jesus,” he wrote in a column for BBC Sport. “People might point at his lack of goals before the World Cup but Jesus is integral to them in the way they press and with his link-up play.
“He is irreplaceable, certainly from within their squad. So, the seriousness of his injury will probably decide whether they try to make some signings in January.”
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