Ouch: Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal squad have been decimated by injuries this season (REUTERS)
Mikel Arteta has confirmed Arsenal are “very worried” about striker Gabriel Jesus.
Jesus suffered his knee injury on Sunday during Arsenal’s FA Cup defeat to Manchester United when attempting to tackle Bruno Fernandes.
The striker received treatment on the pitch from Arsenal’s medical staff and was carried off on a stretcher, with Raheem Sterling replacing him. Reports from The Athletic suggested the Brazilian international has ruptured his ACL.
Jesus was sent back home after the game on Sunday, which the Gunners lost on penalties, and underwent tests on Monday.
Arteta has now given an update on Jesus and told reporters on Tuesday morning: “We know more now and it is not looking good at all. But we need to review one more specialist. So we will have more information this afternoon.
“I don’t want to confirm anything until we have the final report this afternoon. We are very worried today.”
Jesus has been dealing with knee pain ever since the 2022 World Cup, where he suffered an injury.
Arteta stated on Sunday how he believed the striker had injured his other knee, but he was still downbeat about the situation.
Big blow: Gabriel Jesus is facing a significant period out of action (Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
“Big worry, that’s my feeling,” said Arteta, when asked to give an update on Jesus after losing to Manchester United in the third round of the FA Cup.
“He had to come off on a stretcher, with a lot of pain, touching his knee. It’s not looking good. I think it is the other one [and not the knee he injured at the 2022 World Cup].
“But the worrying factor is more the feeling that he had, when he had to come off, and the pain that he was in.”
Jesus being out further dents Arteta’s attacking options ahead of Wednesday night’s north London derby.
Arsenal are already without Bukayo Saka until at least March after he tore his hamstring last month. Ethan Nwaneri is out for a few weeks with a muscle injury.