Mikel Arteta has said that Gabriel Jesus was in “discomfort” after Arsenal’s win over Liverpool last weekend and isn’t certain to play against Leeds tomorrow.
The summer signing from Manchester City 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 unfortunate meat in a sandwich involving Alisson Becker and Virgil van Dijk.
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.
