Arsenal star Gabriel Jesus provides major update on ‘biggest injury of my life’

Arsenal forward Gabriel Jesus says he is making ‘great’ progress with his rehabilitation and ‘looking forward’ to rejoining the squad again after suffering ‘the biggest injury of my life’.

Jesus had just hit a rich vein of form in front of goal – netting six times in seven games – when he went down in a heap during Arsenal’s 1-1 draw with Manchester United in January.

Arsenal’s worst fears were confirmed when it emerged that Jesus had ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, ruling the 28-year-old for the remainder of last season.

Forced to watch Arsenal’s encouraging start to the new campaign from the sidelines, Jesus has been working hard behind the scenes to get himself back to full fitness again following surgery.

Pictures this week showed Jesus doing ball work out on the grass at London Colney – and various reports suggest the Brazilian is ahead of schedule with his recovery.

There are hopes the former Manchester City striker could return to first-team action in December with a view to playing a role for Arsenal during the club’s gruelling winter period.

‘I’m feeling great. My knee is responding very well,’ Jesus told Arsenal’s matchday programme.

‘I’m looking forward to being around the team again soon, to come back to do what I love to do.

‘It’s been too long. An injury like this, one that is so long, you split up the recovery periods into smaller timings.

‘So now I’m at the stage where I need to hold myself back a little bit because I’m doing great work outside on the pitches, but it’s tricky because I need to not rush myself too hard over the line.

‘When you can see the end it’s important you don’t push too hard, keep my feet on the floor, and then as soon as the time comes, I will be ready.’

Jesus admits the devastating injury came at a time he was enjoying life both on and off the pitch.

‘I always believe in myself,’ he added.

‘I’ve had a few tough moments since I arrived here, but also I had great moments here as well, where I was playing a lot and in good shape.

‘Even in games when I wasn’t scoring I was opening space and running in behind. But unfortunately I picked up some injuries, and we cannot control that.

‘But this one is the biggest injury I’ve had in my life, and it came when I was living my best moment outside the pitch.

‘By that I mean I was preparing well, feeling chilled, eating good, sleeping well, recovering well and then it happens. So that’s why I say that we couldn’t expect it.

‘So now I know that it’s never enough. You know, you need to look after yourself even more. You have to be clever to be able to play all the season.

‘That’s what I think now, I need to control training, because I’m a player who always goes outside and gives 100 per cent. If you don’t control it properly, it can be a problem.’

Despite his nine-month injury layoff, Jesus has not given up hope of playing at next year’s World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada.

Having represented Brazil in both 2018 and 2022, the attacker is ready to do everything in his power to get himself a seat on the plane.

‘Of course, I would love to be there for a third,’ he said.

‘But it’s not easy. We have great players, an amazing squad, and it’s only a short period until the World Cup.

‘There is not a lot of time there, but I trust in myself. As soon as I start playing again I will do my best to get involved.’

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