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Gabriel Jesus back at Arsenal to see knee specialist after World Cup withdrawal

Simon Collings
·2-min read
Gabriel Jesus back at Arsenal to see knee specialist after World Cup withdrawal

Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus is in London to see a knee specialist after being forced to withdraw from Brazil’s World Cup squad.

Jesus injured his knee during Brazil’s 1-0 defeat to Cameroon last Friday and, after being assessed by national team staff over the weekend, was ruled out for the rest of the tournament.

The full extent of the injury is uncertain and as a result Jesus flew back to London from Qatar yesterday with his wife and child to see a specialist in London.

Jesus being out for an extended period of time would be a hammer blow for Arsenal and could force them to act in the transfer market.

Mikel Arteta is already light on striking options, with Eddie Nketiah the only backup to Jesus, and the Gunners will be tempted to strengthen as they are currently five points clear at the top of the Premier League.

Arsenal are ready to back Arteta in the transfer market in January and before Jesus’ injury their main priority was a wide forward.

Arteta and sporting director Edu have, conveniently, been with Arsenal’s owner Stan Kroenke over the weekend as part of a pre-arranged trip to the USA.

The pair are now flying directly from Los Angeles to Dubai to join the Arsenal squad for their warm-weather training camp.

FIFA World Cup 2022 Qatar | Best Images and Moments

Japan’s Kaoru Mitoma appears to have the ball over the line before crossing it for a goal during the World Cup group E soccer match between Japan and Spain, at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, Qatar (AP)
Japan’s Kaoru Mitoma appears to have the ball over the line before crossing it for a goal during the World Cup group E soccer match between Japan and Spain, at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, Qatar (AP)
Germany players stand dejected at the end of the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group E campaign and match v Costa Rica (AFP via Getty Images)
Germany players stand dejected at the end of the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group E campaign and match v Costa Rica (AFP via Getty Images)
England’s Marcus Rashford scores their first goal from a free kick past Wales’ Danny (REUTERS)
England’s Marcus Rashford scores their first goal from a free kick past Wales’ Danny (REUTERS)
A pitch invader runs across the field with a rainbow flag during the World Cup group H match between Portugal and Uruguay, at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail (AP)
A pitch invader runs across the field with a rainbow flag during the World Cup group H match between Portugal and Uruguay, at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail (AP)
Ismaila Sarr of Senegal celebrates after their sides victory during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group A match between Ecuador and Senegal at Khalifa International Stadium (Getty Images)
Ismaila Sarr of Senegal celebrates after their sides victory during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group A match between Ecuador and Senegal at Khalifa International Stadium (Getty Images)
USA’s forward #10 Christian Pulisic scores his team’s first goal past Iran’s goalkeeper #01 Alireza Beiranvand during the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group B football match between Iran and USA at the Al-Thumama Stadium in Doha (AFP via Getty Images)
USA’s forward #10 Christian Pulisic scores his team’s first goal past Iran’s goalkeeper #01 Alireza Beiranvand during the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group B football match between Iran and USA at the Al-Thumama Stadium in Doha (AFP via Getty Images)
Cameroon’s Vincent Aboubakar, left, scores the second goal past Serbia’s goalkeeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic during the World Cup group G soccer match between Cameroon and Serbia, at the Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar (AP)
Cameroon’s Vincent Aboubakar, left, scores the second goal past Serbia’s goalkeeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic during the World Cup group G soccer match between Cameroon and Serbia, at the Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar (AP)
Brazil’s midfielder #05 Casemiro celebrates with teammates after he scored his team’s first goal during the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group G match v Switzerland at Stadium 974 in Doha (AFP via Getty Images)
Brazil’s midfielder #05 Casemiro celebrates with teammates after he scored his team’s first goal during the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group G match v Switzerland at Stadium 974 in Doha (AFP via Getty Images)
England’s Harry Kane reacts after missing a chance to score v USA (REUTERS)
England’s Harry Kane reacts after missing a chance to score v USA (REUTERS)
France’s Kylian Mbappe scores their second goal v Denmark (REUTERS)
France’s Kylian Mbappe scores their second goal v Denmark (REUTERS)
Fans from Japan wait for the start of the World Cup group E soccer match v Germany at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, Qatar, (AP)
Fans from Japan wait for the start of the World Cup group E soccer match v Germany at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, Qatar, (AP)

The length of time Jesus spends on the sideline could impact Arsenal’s transfer plans and his spell out will depend on whether he needs to have surgery or not.

The 25-year-old was in pain before being taken off after an hour against Cameroon, but Brazil boss Tite has hit back at reports Jesus was already nursing the problem before being named in his World Cup squad.

“These are evil lies, from those who want to do bad things to others,” he said. Not at any time here in the national team did we pay the price for victory with the health of an athlete.

“So this liar who is out there…the haters, that’s what they call them, that’s what they call them, right?

“They keep spreading it around, so they give me the opportunity to talk. Stop spreading fake news and do something else.”