Arteta Concerned as Jesus Injury Mars Excellent Display

Arteta Concerned as Jesus Injury Mars Excellent Display

Mikel Arteta, the Arsenal coach, expressed deep concern for Gabriel Jesus, the Brazilian forward, after he suffered a hamstring injury during Tuesday’s 2-1 Champions League victory over Sevilla.

Gabriel Jesus had a standout performance in the match, scoring a remarkable goal and creating another for his compatriot Gabriel Martinelli. This victory marked a strong return for Arsenal in the European competition following a previous defeat to Lens.

While Arteta lavished praise on Jesus for his contributions, he couldn’t ignore the injury that forced him to exit the game late. Arteta said to reporters in Seville, “He hurt something in his hamstring, and he had to come off. I’m worried about that.”

It’s worth noting that Gabriel Jesus had a delayed start to the season due to a knee injury but was gradually regaining his form. He had only scored one Premier League goal in seven appearances, but in the Champions League, he had an impressive record of three goals in three games.

Jesus played a crucial role in unlocking Sevilla’s defense, providing an assist to Martinelli just before halftime and later adding a second goal with an excellent strike into the top corner. Arteta commended his performance, stating, “I’m really happy; (it was a) big game for big players, he needs to produce those moments.”

Arsenal is currently third in the Premier League, trailing the leaders Tottenham by two points. If Jesus’s injury proves to be significant, Arteta might have to turn to players like Eddie Nketiah, Kai Havertz, or Leandro Trossard to fill the void. The team faces Sheffield United on Saturday, followed by a visit to Newcastle in the Premier League, and a home match against Sevilla in the Champions League.

Arteta emphasized the importance of the victory at Sevilla’s Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan stadium, which propelled Arsenal to the top of Group B after Lens drew 1-1 against PSV Eindhoven. He noted, “We took a big step towards qualification; it’s another step. This team has to keep growing.” The win came as a response to their prior defeat against Lens, which had put Arsenal in a challenging position in the group.