Gabriel Jesus’ injury during Arsenal’s FA Cup clash against Manchester United has raised significant concerns for the Gunners. The Brazilian forward, who has been in excellent form with five goals in six games, was forced off the pitch in the first half after a heavy challenge from Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes. The incident occurred in the 39th minute, with Jesus appearing to sustain a knee injury that required him to be stretchered off the field.
The injury compounds Arsenal’s ongoing struggles with squad fitness. Key players such as Bukayo Saka (hamstring tear), Ethan Nwaneri (unspecified injury), Ben White, Takehiro Tomiyasu, and Riccardo Calafiori are already sidelined. Losing Jesus adds to Mikel Arteta’s challenges as he navigates a critical phase of the season.
Raheem Sterling, a January signing from Chelsea, came on as a substitute for Jesus. However, his inclusion is unlikely to offset the loss of Arsenal’s talismanic striker, whose dynamic play has been crucial to their recent success.
Manager Mikel Arteta is expected to address Jesus’ condition in a post-match press conference, but the early signs suggest that the injury could keep him out for an extended period. If confirmed, this would significantly impact Arsenal’s attacking options and their ambitions in domestic and European competitions.
Arsenal fans will be anxiously awaiting updates, especially as the team faces a congested fixture schedule in the coming weeks. The absence of key players, particularly Jesus and Saka, could prove a major test of Arteta’s squad depth and tactical flexibility.