Mikel Arteta claims 26-year-old has been ‘so sharp’ in Arsenal training recently

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Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has praised Gabriel Jesus for looking ‘so sharp’ in training ahead of Tuesday’s trip to Nottingham Forest.

Arsenal were back in Premier League action on Tuesday night and faced a tricky trip to the City Ground.

The Gunners have come unstuck a couple of times against Forest during the Mikel Arteta era and they were desperate to avoid a similar fate.

It took a while but Arsenal did find the opener as Gabriel Jesus squeezed a shot through former Gunners stopper Matt Turner and into the net.

Bukayo Saka made it 2-0 from a Jesus pass and whilst Taiwo Awoniyi gave Forest hope, Arsenal closed out a 2-1 victory on the road.

Mikel Arteta hails Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus

It looked like being a frustrating night for Jesus, who went close in the first half and then rattled the woodwork after the break.

Jesus scored from an improbable angle to open the scoring though and then set up Saka to take the game away from Forest.

The 26-year-old isn’t exactly known for his clinical finishing ability and his goal against Forest was just his fourth Premier League goal of the season.

Arsenal need more goals from Jesus in order to win the Premier League title this season and Arteta will be hoping that his latest goal can spark a run of form.

Arteta has certainly like what he has seen from Jesus of late, telling Football London after Tuesday’s win that he thinks Jesus has looked ‘so sharp’ in training recently.

The Spaniard didn’t really have any news on a potential injury for Jesus after suggesting a knee problem, but he was ‘not surprised’ by his superb display against Forest having been so good in the build-up.

“I don’t know. He got hit big time in the last game. His knee reacted and it’s the knee he had [surgery on] before,” said Arteta on a potential injury. “He was super positive, he’s feeling good and he was so sharp in training. I’m not surprised with the way he played tonight,” he added.

Jesus knows what it takes to win a Premier League title having done so on numerous occasions with Manchester City.

Arsenal need that experience to shine through this term and Arteta needs positive news on that injury situation as Arsenal need him to be in top form for the coming months as the Gunners aim to go one better than last year.