Arsenal will have to start the 2023/24 season without one of their best players. Following a shootout win over Monaco in the Emirates Cup, manager Mikel Arteta confirmed that Gabriel Jesus suffered a setback that will rule him out for the start of the Premier League.
“Unfortunately, he had a little procedure this morning,” Arteta said, via Sky Sports. “He’s had some discomfort in his knee that caused him some issues so they had to go in. It’s not something major but he’s going to be out for a few weeks.”
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Gabriel Jesus to miss start of the Premier League
“It’s a big blow because we had him back to his best, especially with the way he played against Barcelona and he was in good condition but unfortunately we lost him,” the Spanish boss added. “We had to look at it and we had to make a decision and the best one is to protect the player and get him back as quick as possible. We decided to do it.”
The 26-year-old had taken part in the Gunners’ 5-3 victory over Barcelona in a friendly, being subbed off after 79 minutes. According to Arteta, Jesus’ setback is related to the knee injury that he picked up during the 2022 World Cup, which kept him out for much of the second half of last season.
“He had some irritation in the knee and we had to get it resolved,” Arteta said.
The games Jesus could miss
Though Arteta isn’t sure for how long Jesus will be out, it looks like the striker could miss a number of games. These are all the Arsenal fixtures before the September international break.:
- August 6: Man City (FA Community Shield)
- August 12: vs Nottingham Forest
- August 21: vs Crystal Palace
- August 26: vs Fulham
- September 3: vs Man Utd
