Gabriel Jesus has continued to struggle with injuries for much of his career at Arsenal and there has been no respite for the Brazilian international this season either.
After featuring for just five minutes in the team’s Premier League opener against Wolverhampton Wanderers, the forward faced some more time out on the sidelines as he missed clashes against Aston Villa and Brighton.
However, it has emerged that he is expected tp be available in time for the North London Derby after spending the international break recuperating with Arsenal’s medical team.
While there is no clarity as to whether or not he will be deemed fit enough to start the game, fears regarding another long-term layoff for Jesus have been alleviated as a result of his faster-than-expected recovery from his latest fitness snag and it has been said that Jesus should at least make the bench against Tottenham.
Arteta’s tactical plans will not hinge on Gabriel Jesus
Mikel Arteta will be bolstered by Gabriel Jesus returning but as far as the Tottenham Hotspur game goes, the manager’s tactical plans will not be expected to radically shift so as to accommodate him in the starting eleven, if indeed he is fit for it.
Kai Havertz will continue to play as the striker with Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka on the left and right flanks, respectively, while Declan Rice’s absence against Tottenham Hotspur might be overcome by using Jurrien Timber as a defensive midfielder in a double pivot with Thomas Partey.
The Dutchman will play fluidly with Riccardo Calafiori, who could start at left-back and switch roles depending on the motion of play.
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If Arteta decides to proceed with a 4-3-3 formation, Timber would be the left-back in all likelihood and Partey would play as the solitary holding midfielder. In that case, Havertz will drop into midfield to play beside Martin Odegaard and Raheem Sterling would be utlitised as a false-nine in the final third.
That’s not to say that Jesus’ return is not good news for Arteta, however, as his Gunners team get their Champions League group stage underway shortly after their clash against Ange Postecoglou’s charges.
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Arsenal travel to Atalanta for their opening fixture of the European Cup on 19th September and Jesus will certainly play some part in the game against La Dea, if he is restricted to the bench in the NLD.
