Arsenal’s striker, Gabriel Jesus, is set to be sidelined for an extended period, according to Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta. Jesus sustained a hamstring injury during Arsenal’s 2-1 victory over Sevilla in the UEFA Champions League, where he contributed an assist and scored the winning goal. As injuries continue to mount, Arteta is urging the Premier League to consider increasing squad sizes.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta disclosed that Gabriel Jesus might face several weeks on the sidelines due to a muscle injury. The Brazilian international was substituted with just nine minutes left in Arsenal’s Champions League triumph over Sevilla after experiencing a hamstring issue.
This marks Jesus’s second injury setback of the season, having missed the beginning of the campaign due to knee surgery over the summer. He made his return to Premier League action as a late substitute in Arsenal’s 2-2 draw against Fulham and has scored one goal in seven league appearances.
In the previous season, the 26-year-old played a crucial role as the focal point of Arsenal’s attack, contributing 11 goals and six assists during his first season with the club in north London.
Arteta, who previously worked with Jesus at Manchester City, is advocating for an increase in squad sizes and the number of allowed substitutes in a game, proposing an extension from the current limit of five substitutes to ten.
Currently, clubs can register 25-man rosters, including eight players classified as ‘home-grown’ in England. Arteta emphasizes the importance of player welfare and maintaining quality in the face of extended calendars and heightened physical demands.
Arteta stated, “The laws will change and probably our capacity to do things during games will change as well. We will have to adapt, for sure.”
Arsenal’s injury list is currently growing, with Gabriel Jesus, Thomas Partey, and Jurrien Timber facing absences. Bukayo Saka, the team’s right-winger, has been dealing with a hamstring issue in recent weeks, while Leandro Trossard and William Saliba also withdrew from international duty due to hamstring and toe problems, respectively.
