Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta had no good news to share on the condition of Gabriel Jesus after the Brazil international was taken off on a stretcher with a knee injury in Sunday's FA Cup loss to Manchester United.
Jesus was promoted back to the first XI in place of Leandro Trossard for the visit of the Red Devils, starting on the right-hand side as Kai Havertz and Gabriel Martinelli completed the attacking trident.
The 27-year-old had reignited his Gunners career over the festive period with six goals in four games against Crystal Palace, Ipswich Town and Brentford, but he failed to make it through the first half of Sunday's third-round tie.
Jesus appeared to damage his knee in an otherwise innocuous challenge with Bruno Fernandes, and he had to be taken off on a stretcher as Arsenal lost on penalties following a 1-1 draw at the Emirates.
Speaking to BBC Sport after the game, Arteta could not say for sure how severe his issue was so soon after the incident, but he admitted that Jesus going off on a stretcher was a massive concern.
Arteta: 'Jesus was in a lot of pain'
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"No update but it's not looking good. He was in quite a lot of pain, he had to come off on a stretcher and he's not looking good," the Spaniard said, as Jesus suffered his latest knee-related setback in Arsenal colours.
The former Manchester City man hit the ground running at the Emirates following his 2022 arrival from the Etihad, but he then spent three months on the sidelines with the severe problem he sustained at the 2022 World Cup.
Jesus missed 17 games for club and country during his recuperation period, but he still made a positive impression for Arsenal towards the end of the season before needing another minor operation over the summer.
The 27-year-old's 2023-24 campaign was hampered by another pair of knee issues and a hamstring concern, as he fell behind Havertz in the strikers' pecking order, leading to talk of a move away.
Nevertheless, Jesus elected to stay and try to put his fitness woes behind him, only to spend another two weeks out with a groin injury earlier in the season, and it would not be a shock to see him spend more than just a fortnight on the sidelines with this latest problem.
Could Jesus's injury spell the end of his Arsenal career?
© Imago
Whether you are a die-hard Gooner or could not loath Arsenal any more, it is hard not to feel a shred of sympathy for Jesus, who was just starting to prove his worth again before a devastatingly cruel setback.
If there is one sliver of hope for Jesus and Arsenal, it is that Arteta confirmed his latest problem looks to be in the other knee than the one he previously underwent surgery on, suggesting that it may have been a freak accident rather than the sign of an underlying complication.
However, Sunday's blow might very well spell the end of Jesus's mixed Arsenal career, especially if it does prove to be as severe as Arteta fears, as he will enter the last two years of his deal this summer with no sign of an extension.
Arsenal decided that a new striker was not a top priority in the summer thanks to Havertz's successful first season and Jesus's availability, but in addition to the latter's fitness issues rearing their ugly heads once more, Havertz has now missed a number of golden chances to score in his last two matches.
Whether the Gunners can add to their attacking ranks in January remains to be seen - they could be treading a Financial Fair Play tightrope - but a number nine will surely be the focus for the summer if not now, and Jesus's time might very well be up.
Arsenal are also missing Bukayo Saka, Ethan Nwaneri, Riccardo Calafiori, Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu ahead of Wednesday's mouthwatering Premier League North London derby with Tottenham Hotspur.
Ben Knapton
