27 March 2023 , 12:44
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While some wondered if Gabriel Jesus would have to fight for his place back in the Arsenal team, it would seem clear Mikel Arteta always knew the Brazilian would be the main man at the back end of the season.
The former Manchester City star sustained a serious knee injury while away at the World Cup with the Selecao that required surgery and kept Jesus sidelined for four months. Once news broke that the forward would be going under the knife and out of action for a while, many viewed Arsenal's title hopes as all but over.
In fact, Jesus' former team-mate Sergio Aguero seemed to suggest as much when he praised the Gunners last year but insisted their chances of winning the league could depend on the condition in which their players return from the World Cup.
Discussing Arsenal's title charge back in October, Aguero told Stake.com : "We're on the first stage of a Premier League that will be different from many others – by and large because we'll have a World Cup in the middle of it. That makes it harder to foresee how it'll turn out.
"Consistency is the name of the game to win the title and the missing piece is knowing in what condition each player will rejoin their clubs after the World Cup. Arsenal will probably be one of those teams but surely not the only one."
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In actual fact, the Gunners were certainly dealt the toughest blow out of the Premier League's big six, having been forced to contend without their talismanic forward in the months that followed the World Cup.
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Gabriel Jesus is yet to play 90 minutes since his return from knee surgery (Getty Images)In his absence, Eddie Nketiah and more recently Leandro Trossard have both deputised and both done stellar jobs.
So much so that Arteta himself did claim that Jesus would have to work tirelessly for his place back, but with 10 games left and the Gunners still sitting pretty at the top, it is almost definitely 'play your best players' time.
His comments after Jesus was introduced off the bench for his first taste of league action this year earlier this month away at Fulham made for interesting reading.
"It’s a big boost, the first step today. Gabi said to me a few days ago: ‘I’m still missing something.’ Yesterday I looked in his eyes and he said: ‘I’m ready’.
"He looks free, he looks ready. To see him there with a smile on his face was a joy. I was really happy for him."
A 'ready' Jesus is a weapon that few defences across the division will want to encounter, but for Arsenal it may be just the thing that gets them over the line for a first league title in 19 years.