Gabriel Jesus will undergo a scan on Thursday to assess the extent of his hamstring injury, according to Standard Sport.
Jesus was forced off during Tuesday’s 2-1 win over Sevilla in the Champions League, having signalled to the bench after stretching for a loose ball.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta admitted after the game that he was “worried” to see the Brazilian come off, although the player himself remains hopeful the issue was nothing serious.
“I felt something. Let’s see,” the forward told reporters after the match. “I did some tests with the physio. It looks not that big, but let’s see.
“I will have a scan, maybe tomorrow or the day after. Let’s see how it is, but I am pretty sure it will be nothing.”
Arteta is due to hold his pre-Sheffield United press conference on Friday, where he is expected to provide an update on Jesus’ fitness.
Obviously Nketiah stays the next match…
I’d start Havertz. I think he offers more help to his team mates (even if he might be less than impressive as a finisher – to say the least). That, is more valuable to the team IMO. If he can hold the ball up and move it around (and maybe get on the end of a good cross) and bring in those around him with excellent fire power (i.e., Saka, Martinelli, Marty) that’s better than Eddie who might pop up for a 2-yard finish and struggle to connect the play the rest of the game.
I will trust in Arteta’s judgement. If we are winning then who cares.
He is human too and will get a lot of decisions wrong in his time due to his inherent bias or of his principles. But that’s why he is in the hot seat. Don’t think he gets paid enough to go through the stress level.
Well it’s not like what anyone says here makes one lick of difference, but don’t we call come here for a bit of banter about footy and tactics?
Absolutely agree. I in fact come here for that reason as well. To read other people’s opinion and see football in different ways and learn so many different things.
Thanks for reminding me. Sometimes it’s easy to forget why we come here and post on a footy blog 🙏🏽
I’d start Havertz (as an AM, Jorginho not starting), too, but I would also start Nketiah if Jesus isn’t fit. I think Sheffield are going to play in a defensive shell/block for the majority of the game and we will have to break them down through ball and player movement. Despite what people think, Eddie is very good at moving defenders out of position and creating spaces for his teammates, and he’s terribly quick when he anticipates a pass in minimal space in the box. We will have all 10 of our outfield players in their half for much of… Read more »
Trossard/Havertz/Ramsdale/Zinny if fit for Jesus/Jorginho/Raya/Tomi to play against the Blades, i don’t expect Miki to start anyone of these to be honest.
The reasons to start Havertz at no. 9 are almost identical to the ones for Giroud. And since we seem to have moved past that kind of football, I for one hope this isn’t how it plays out. Specially against Sheffield.
Yikes!
Triple yikes.
I’d place Jesus among the top 3 most important players in this team right now because the drop in talent behind him is so large. Maybe Saka, Rice, and Jesus are the three hardest to replace. That is not to say guys like Marty and Saliba and Martinelli for example aren’t equally as good, but I see those three positions as having the biggest step down to their replacements (Rice you might argue has Partey, but it cannot be understated how freaking amazing Rice is, he’s carrying our midfield two).
Rice you might argue has Partey, if Partey is ever to be had.
At their respective peaks I’m not even sure if Rice is that much better as a 6, just very different. I wish Partey was fit so we can finally see Rice in a true box-to-box role where I think he could offer most of what he has so far defensively plus even more attacking/ball carrying threat, and more intercepting higher up the pitch like he did against Chelsea.
For fucks sake when he’s really starting to klick and get in the groove something like this comes up. Let’s hope it’s just a niggle cause playing Nkethia doesn’t fill me with confidence after his latest displays and sulkiness. We really need to sort the injuries to Partey and Jesus, as they are close to as good as it gets, or replace them. In Jesus case it’s more to add equal/better, quality to give us options and some real competition for the top spot. Love Partey. He’s as good as Rice when in form and those two together would be… Read more »
Yeah. This, unfortunately, is starting to feel like an ongoing pattern for Jesus. He shows us just how magical he can be when fully fit and then picks up an injury. It’s a real worry. To have Jesus, TP5 and Zinchenko as key members of this side is beginning to get frustrating. All three need serious minute managing and even with the depth we now have, we cannot support these players being so often out off action. Add to the list Tomiyasu who seems a little brittle and Timber who will undoubtedly pick up a lot of niggles during his… Read more »
And a Merry Christmas to you too, mate! 😂
Let’s just hope our angel Gabriel’s all make it to the nativity.
Madness that players are seen as dispensable but when they make choices that are good for themselves, we call them Judas.
I said last time he was injured that it’s only a matter of time before he gets injured again. Back to square one again with all the Nketia debate. Time to seriously consider an upgrade in January. We can’t expect Nketia to be our lead striker in the Premier League and now Champions League. The guy is good but not at this level for 2 games a week.
Honestly, you’re being kind to Nketiah with the end of your comment there. Don’t care if it’s ‘only’ Sheffield, it simply has to be Havertz/Trossard up front this weekend if Jesus is unfit. It may seem like a harsh sounding conversation to have about a player that’s come through our system, but there’s a very familiar pattern that happens whenever Eddie has a run in the first team. At first he has something to prove so puts in the extra yards and surprises everyone by looking quite dynamic. Then pretty soon regresses back to his usual level after being left… Read more »
I think you’re being a bit harsh. He has essentially had one bad injury since he’s been at the club. Then he had to have a second injury on the knee but apart from that he’s been ever present until this hamstring strain.
I’m more worried about the fact that him, Saka, Martinelli and Trossard (twice) have all suffered hamstring injuries this season already
No Nketiah.
Caralho!
foda-se!
Would try Havertz at 9.
Arsenal fans when we sign Havertz :
‘Wait til you see this guy in his proper position, it’s not his fault Chelsea played him as a no 9, he’s just not a no.9.’
Araenal’s no.9 gets injured :
‘Let’s try Havertz at no.9’
Love it !
He was never a £65m striker, but he wasn’t that bad for Chelsea there either. Probably good enough to stand in when Jesus is injured, which Nketiah hasn’t been lately.
Personally I’d prefer to see Martinelli given another game up front. I can’t remember who it was against when he played CF last season, but he was brilliant and we haven’t seen him there since. He’s also the closest in terms of play style to Jesus with his tenacity, pace and dribbling. And it would open up a starting spot for Smith-Rowe on the left. Can’t see it happening though
If Martinelli moved to CF, it’s probably going to be Trossard coming in on the left. I actually think it’s more likely that Trossard would play CF and Martinelli would stay out.
It’s true that in some ways Martinelli is closest to Gabriel Jesus when he plays as a 9. The problem is that we lose a lot when he is not playing the left wing. Aside from Kyle Walker, is there a fullback in the league who he does not beat easily and repeatedly? And if an opposition centre half, or their 6, shifts over to protect their fullback, that leaves a lot of room for Gabriel Jesus and Odegaard–and it creates opportunities to get the ball to Saka when he is one v one. It depends on the opposition of… Read more »
Yup. No way I’m moving Martinelli. He’s a freaking weapon on the left. Trossard is definitely an option to start as he does a good job linking team mates too, in more a false 9 role. I’d still give Havertz a chance as he can play hold up/link up, but Eddie really struggles with that part of the game, and it makes life difficult for others around him, hence why so many see us as a less functional team with Eddie at striker.
I supported Nketiah but have to admit, he will only fulfill his potential towards retirement, like Akpom.
This is true but I still also want him at 9! His best performances for us have come from that position and he gives us something different as well, a real threat in the air. He’s probably our best option there if Jesus is out.
Lol, crazy our family.
We SHOULD get through Sheffield United with minimum fuss. I would rest Ødegaard too and unleash a surely fired up Fabio Vieira.
My 11 would be Raya (I know Arteta won’t drop him), White, Saliba, Gabriel, Tomiyasu, Jorginho, Rice, Vieira, Saka, Trossard and Martinelli.
If we are up to 3 goals up by 70th minute, Havertz, Smith Rowe and Nelson would be my substitutes.
Or Sheffield at home could be just what Ø needs to get going.
Guess the selection will tell whether he’s more in need of a goal or a rest.
I unfortunately think this is one of our biggest issues. I fear that both Jesus and Partey will play maximum half the games this season. And both at so so important to our offensive identity and quality. We are not our absolute best without them. So what to do?
This man is the main reason I started watching full games again, before Kai arrived that is. I’m only joking about KH of course but I probably rate him more than most and would like to see him as Jesus cover, facilitating play for Saka, Martinelli and Trossardinho…
Also the women’s team apologising for ‘lack of diversity’ ?? Disgraceful.
I think I was the only Arsenal fan underwhelmed with us spending big bucks on Jesus as our number 9. I like Gabi don’t get me wrong but if city didn’t have Halaand as their 9 we would be seated here as defending champions no doubt. His issue at city wasn’t injuries since they didn’t desperately need him as a 9 but we do and make no mistake about it he has improved us as a 9. We are almost guaranteed/ expecting a top 4 finish but truth be told we lack a beast at number 9and I know it,… Read more »
“Arteta is due to hold his pre-Sheffield United press conference on Friday, where he is expected to provide an update on Jesus’ fitness.”
*Spoiler alert*
Arteta will almost definitely say something like “He is being assessed. We have one more training session so let’s see how he is and if he can make it”.