Arsenal’s Gabriel Jesus suspension issue now a reality ahead of Tottenham clash
GABRIEL JESUS is in danger of being banned for an upcoming Arsenal match.
Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus is perilously close to being suspended ahead of a crucial run of fixtures for Mikel Arteta’s side. The Gunners face north London rivals Tottenham next and the Brazilian striker will have to be on his best behaviour to avoid a ban.
In just seven Premier League appearances, Jesus has already picked up four yellow cards in an Arsenal shirt. Only five other players in the top flight have collected the same number of bookings, while Fulham’s Joao Palhinha got his fifth on Friday to rule him out of the Cottagers’ clash against Newcastle on October 1.
Jesus has proven to be one of the signings of the summer and registered his fourth goal in the 3-0 win over Brentford on Sunday. But late on he was given a yellow by referee David Coote to put him in doubt for an upcoming match.
It is not until each respective club’s 19th league match of the season that the threshold to receive a ban is lifted from five cards to 10. Therefore Jesus will be hoping not to receive a yellow in any of Arsenal’s next 12 league matches, which won’t be until early 2023 at least following two postponements.
But a card against Spurs would rule him out of the visit of Liverpool on October 9. Matches away to Leeds and Southampton follow, while a trip to Chelsea is on the horizon in November.
Jesus has added a different dimension to the Arsenal side who often lacked cutting edge last season. But to lose him to suspension for any game would be a blow to Arteta.
Jesus was surprisingly left out of the Brazil squad for the upcoming matches against Ghana and Tunisia. Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Maghalhaes were also ignored by Brazil coach Tite ahead of the World Cup in November.
Arteta’s message to Arsenal 15-year-old Nwaneri before substitution
Arteta has advised the trio to focus on their club performances and show why they do deserve to be selected. He said this week: “What I have to do is to convince the players to put their head down, accept the decision of the coach of the national team and give them even more reasons if it’s necessary to tell them why they should be selected.
“That’s the way the boys reacted and it’s nothing else to comment on.”
