Mikel Arteta has confirmed Gabriel Jesus was in ‘discomfort’ after Arsenal’s win over Liverpool last weekend and isn’t guaranteed to return against Leeds tomorrow.
The summer signing from has enjoyed a fantastic start to his Gunners career with his five goals and three assists so far barely doing justice to the transformative effect he has had on Arteta’s attack.
Jesus has started all nine Premier League games so far this season but he could be forced to miss the trip to Elland Road after a bruising encounter against Liverpool.
The Brazil international sustained a facial injury after he was caught by a stray Kostas Tsimikas elbow and that blow was later compounded after he was the unforunate meat in a sandwhich involving Alisson Becker and .
Jesus subsequently missed Thursday’s trip to Norway and the win over Bodo/Glimt after which Arteta was unwilling to guarantee his star forward would feature against Leeds.
When asked in his pre-match press conference whether Jesus would be available, Mikel said: ‘I don’t know, obviously he has some discomfort after the game against Liverpool.
‘That’s why we decided not to bring him in [to Norway], so let’s see how he is tomorrow and Saturday.’
After home victories against fellow top four hopefuls at the Emirates, Arsenal must now prove they can replicate that form on the road.
Asked if Arsenal were now better equipped to stand up to hostile atmospheres after costly defeats at Spurs and Newcastle late last season, Arteta said: ‘I think so, but last year it was incredible.
‘Even when we were winning 3-0 that crowd is something that I’ve never seen before, and you can sense that.
‘Every time I watch them and I’ve seen some games already and you can hear the noise, so we know how it’s going to be.’
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