Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus has revealed that he hopes to return from injury within the next "four or five weeks".
The 25-year-old arrived at the Emirates Stadium from Manchester City in the summer and enjoyed a bright start to the 2022-23 campaign with Mikel Arteta's side, scoring five goals and providing seven assists in 20 appearances across all competitions.
However, the Brazil international sustained a knee injury at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and came home from the tournament early before the South American giants were eventually eliminated at the quarter-final stage.
Jesus underwent successful knee surgery at the end of last year and was expected to be sidelined for around three months, but the striker's recovery date has since changed, with Arteta claiming he will be out for 'longer than expected'.
"Hopefully we will have Gabriel back for the final months, it was a serious injury a bit longer than we expected it," Arteta told reporters last week as quoted by talkSPORT.
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"He is going to do everything he can to make it shorter but we'll miss him for a while."
Jesus was in attendance at the Emirates Stadium to watch Arsenal beat Manchester United 3-2 in the Premier League on Sunday, a game which saw fellow striker Eddie Nketiah score a brace.
Footage on social media has since emerged of Jesus having a conversation about his injury with UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov in the stands after the match.
The Brazilian provided a positive update during that conversation, revealing that he may be in a position to return from his knee injury within the next "four or five weeks".
Jesus saying he could come back in five weekspic.twitter.com/pJX9hTbmKV
— Doc (@karthikadhaigal) January 23, 2023
Arsenal have managed to cope without the presence of Jesus in attack, with Nketiah in particular stepping up to fill the central void, scoring five goals in as many appearances across all competitions since the World Cup break.
Fellow attackers Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and captain Martin Odegaard have also chipped in with important goals in recent weeks to keep Arsenal's Premier League title hopes alive.
The Gunners currently sit five points clear of Manchester City at the top of the Premier League table, but victory in their game in hand would see them extend their lead to eight points.
Arteta and co are now preparing for an FA Cup fourth-round tie against the Citizens at the Etihad Stadium on Friday, before returning to top-flight action with an away trip to managerless Everton on February 4.
Oliver Thomas
