Jesus, Nketiah, Elneny: Arsenal injury news and return dates ahead of Sporting CP clash
Arsenal clinched five consecutive Premier League wins with an emphatic 3-0 win over Fulham on Sunday. Goals from Gabriel Magalhaes, Gabriel Martinelli and Martin Odegaard, all in the first half, restored the Gunners’ lead to five points at the top of the table.
The game was an all round success for the club as Gabriel Jesus made his long awaited return to the game for over three months. The Brazilian suffered an inner ligament damage while playing for Brazil at the World Cup but was brought on at Craven Cottage in the 77th minute.
Games for Mikel Arteta’s side are coming close and fast with Sporting CP visiting the Emirates Stadium on Thursday night. In this sense, football.london has rounded up the latest news on all Gunners players dealing with injuries.
CONTINUE READING: Gabriel Jesus lets Arsenal’s injury return against Fulham to give Mikel Arteta title boost
Gabriel Jesus
The striker is finally back. Jesus returned to the pitch yesterday after suffering an inner ligament injury for Brazil against Cameroon in the group stage of the World Cup.
The Brazilian was expected to return perhaps next week or after the international break, but the 25-year-old has played 15 minutes in a much-welcomed boost.
He needs more time to fully recover but the fact that he’s back on the field and part of Arteta’s squad is crucial for the rest of the season.
What Arteta said: “Big boost. The first step today. We didn’t know if today was the right game. He said to me a few days ago: ‘I’m still missing something.’ Yesterday I looked him in the eye and he said, ‘I’m ready.’ I said, ‘OK!’ Then we had a chance to throw him in. It’s the first step in giving him the big boost. He looks clear he looks ready and he created those two big chances right away. It’s great to have him back.”
Eddie Nketiah
Eddie Nketiah had found himself on the bench after falling slightly in form in recent wins against Leicester and Everton. Arsenal boss Arteta then confirmed after coming on as a substitute against the Toffees that the young forward had been suffering from minor injury concerns.
Arsenal then decided not to bring the Hale End academy graduate to Lisbon. He wasn’t on the bench against Fulham either.
What Arteta said: “We’re testing him,” said the Spaniard in his pre-match press conference. “It’s a bit uncertain what’s going to happen to him, to be honest, in the training sessions.
“Let’s see, let’s keep the options open. He is very positive and hopefully he will do well.”
Expected return date: N / A
Mohammed Elneny
Elneny started in the FA Cup win over Oxford United and played the full 90 minutes. However, the Egyptian was absent from Arteta’s squad in the 2-0 win at Tottenham as a knee problem arose in training prior to judging the clash. Also, there was no room for Manchester United on the bench.
A club statement last month then confirmed the former Basel native will be out for an extended period, although no timetable was given for his expected return. Elneny has since signed a new contract with Arsenal as he nears a return.
Expected return date: N / A
CONTINUE READING:
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