‘I WILL DISAPPOINT HIM TODAY’: Arteta says he will disappoint £265,000-a-week Arsenal star player TODAY
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has suggested to Sky Sports that Gabriel Jesus is unlikely to play against Fulham in the London derby on Sunday afternoon.
Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal will lock horn with Marco Silva’s Fulham at Craven Cottage in the Premier League today
Jesus has resumed training and is recovering well from the injury that he suffered while playing for Brazil at the 2022 Qatar World Cup.
Arteta has said that the £265,000-a-week (Spotrac) striker is desperate to play, but he has suggested that he will be disappointed today.
The Arsenal boss has suggested that he is not going to risk Jesus against Fulham.
MIKEL ARTETA ON ARSENAL STRIKER GABRIEL JESUS V FULHAM
Arteta said about Jesus: “He’s been really pushing the boundaries and trying to get that recovery as quick and as soon as possible, but the reality is that when he started to do some activity, he is still feeling that he needed a little bit more time.
“Is that a matter of days rather than a matter of weeks? Hopefully yes. But he needs to feel confident and comfortable and ready, especially the way he plays. We need him at his best so, the moment he is ready. He will be thrown on the field.”
When asked about the importance of not rushing him back, Arteta added: “We haven’t done that at all. Obviously the timescale he had has been respected and now it’s more about his feelings.
“When he actually demands, ‘I really want to be a part of this’, because he’s so willing, and the moment he expresses that desire that means he feels fully ready.”
Asked if it’s been difficult to hold him back, Arteta said: “It has been in the last few weeks but now we are comfortable where he is, the state of the knee, where he is physically in all the metrics he needs to be safe to come back are in the right places.
“It’s now about him feeling ready to step in and have challenges and have opponents around.”
NO NEED TO RUSH
In our view, Arsenal should not rush Gabriel Jesus from his injury.
Yes, the Brazilian is very keen on getting back in action, and Arsenal fans would love to see the former Manchester City striker lead the line again.
Eddie Nketiah is injured at the moment.
However, we believe that Arteta is being very smart in not rushing Jesus and allowing him to get fully fit.
The striker will be massive for Arsenal in the final weeks and months of the season, as the North London club aim to win the Premier League title.
