Gabriel Jesus fires new Arsenal injury update as Mikel Arteta faces striker transfer dilemma

Gabriel Jesus has provided an update on his injury ahead of Arsenal's match vs Brentford. The 28-year-old striker suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury during at the start of the year.

Shortly after leaving the Emirates Stadium on a stretcher, Jesus received extensive assessments, scans and also specialist reviews. The Brazil international - who joined Arsenal from Manchester City for £45m in July 2022 - has .

In March, Jesus announced he had successfully completed . On Instagram, he said: "The first seven weeks of recovery are done. Working hard and improving every day, thanks to God. Step by step [praying hands and arm flexed emoji]!"

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By April, Jesus was on an exercise bike in the gym, . Shortly before the Brazilian sustained the injury, Arteta reckoned he had 'turned a corner' after some impressive displays during the festive period.

Over December and January, - scoring three goals. Playing a crucial role in the Spaniard's side, he helped Arsenal extend their unbeaten streak and strengthen their bid for the English title.

In this timeframe, Jesus also scored a hat-trick against Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup quarter-final. Arteta said: "That's the beauty of football - things change.

"I think he scored the same amount in four days as in 45 appearances and he could have scored a hat-trick again. Credit to him because he's put so much work and belief in to what he does. He was patient and he got rewarded.

"You have to prepare for your opportunity, that's it. If you fail to prepare then it's not going to happen, and that's clear. You want it, you want it early and sometimes it's not going to happen and you don't see the rewards."

On Jesus, who sustained an similar injury to his opposite knee in 2022, and his transformation, Arteta added: "It's like going to the gym and looking in the mirror after one week or one month.

"Sometimes it needs more time and suddenly everybody is saying you look much better, you're looking healthier and now good things happen so I think it's a good example to understand what Gabi has done."

Arsenal have been short on options in Jesus' absence, with Mikel Merino often utilised as a make-shift striker. So much so that Arteta regularly demanded higher-ups at the Emirates Stadium to strengthen his squad.

Despite publicly asking for reinforcements on numerous occasions, Arteta's demands fell on deaf ears - leaving him 'disappointed'. Once the window shut, he said: "We had a clear intention which is always when a window opens for us to explore the opportunities to improve our squad with players that can make an impact.

"With players injured, we've been impacted - and we haven't achieved it. We are disappointed in that sense, but as well we are very aware that we only want to bring certain kinds of players and we have to be very disciplined with that as well. I think that we were."

Arsenal's manager added: "It's in the profile, a player that we believe can make us much better.

"Financially, there is a lot of ways - and a lot of things that we must stay in the lane that has taken us this far and from there try to improve."