Mikel Arteta says that Gabriel Jesus has returned to fitness ahead of schedule, after being out since the start of the year with an ACL injury.
The Brazilian forward has been ruled out since going off injured against Manchester United back in January, but returned to the squad for our Premier League draw with Chelsea late last month, albeit it without making it onto the pitch.
Now, having progressed well in training, he’s been added to the Champions League squad, in time to face Club Brugge on Wednesday evening. Jesus is able to be included due to an injury to Max Dowman, and he will take the teenager’s place on the UEFA A List.
“First of all with Max, unfortunately he picked up an injury last weekend and he had to come off,” the manager explained at the press conference. “So he did some scans and he is going to be out for weeks and then we have the situation of Gabi [Jesus], who we were expecting to be training with us by the end of December. Gabi has been pushing every single day and he kept telling everybody I am going to be earlier, earlier, earlier and he has done it.
“So thanks to his work and all the work that the medical staff have done in all these months, and we had the possibility to make a swap there and we have done it. Yes, one side you see Max and the situation and the other one you see the joy and how happy Gabi is to be back in the Champions League.”
On Dowman’s injury, Arteta added: “It’s part of the journey. At some point when you play at this level, when you play in the position that he plays, the manner that he plays, it was going to happen and it happened. OK, it’s not ideal, it will be a matter of weeks, it could have been worse. Learn from it and use this time now to continue improving in his education, in everything related to professional football, his habits, the way he needs to develop his physicality, and his understanding of the game. Sometimes when you’re away from the game, you say, ‘I cannot really live without it, and how important it is.’ So use those moments as well to get a reflection of where you are as well, and if you are better, of course, go forward.”
The manager also provided an update on three other players who have not made the trip to Belgium – Declan Rice, William Saliba and Leandro Trossard.
“Declan was ill. He was quite sick after the game, and he hasn’t travelled with us. William is still not available and Leo again, he picked another knock in an area where they had the issue and I don’t expect that it’s going to be long, but unfortunately he cannot be here.”
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