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Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus takes part in full training ahead of the first leg of the Gunners’ Europa League last-16 clash against Sporting Lisbon.
Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus has been put through his paces in full training as the Gunners prepare for Thursday’s Europa League last-16 first leg against Sporting Lisbon.
The 25-year-old is still waiting for his first appearance in red and white since the turn of the calendar year, having undergone surgery on a knee injury following the World Cup.
Jesus has been absent for Arsenal’s last 14 games in all competitions, leaving Eddie Nketiah to largely shoulder the attacking burden alongside Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard.
Mikel Arteta has continuously refused to place a timeline on Jesus’s recovery, but he was expected to spend around three months out of action in total, leading to hopes of a comeback at some point in March.
Over the past few weeks, Jesus has slowly been building his fitness back up at London Colney, and a recent report claimed that he would make the journey to Portugal with the squad this week.
Gabriel Jesus getting fully stuck in during his first full training session for almost four months ? pic.twitter.com/96564qg52a
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) March 8, 2023
In a significant boost to Arteta’s thinned attacking ranks, Jesus was able to take part in full training on Wednesday morning, and he is expected to be on the plane for the first leg.
Whether the former Manchester City man will be considered for a comeback on Thursday is another question entirely, as Arteta is still slowly re-integrating him back into team sessions.
Should Arsenal continue to adopt a cautious approach over Jesus’s fitness, the striker could make his first-team return in the Gunners’ first game back following the international break, which comes at home against Leeds United on April 1.
Following his £45m move from Manchester City in the summer, Jesus immediately became the focal point of Arsenal’s attack and amassed five goals and seven assists in his first 20 games for the club.
However, the Brazil international has experienced an 11-game scoreless drought since his last goal, which came in Arsenal’s 3-1 North London derby victory over Tottenham Hotspur on October 1.
© Reuters
While Arsenal have been boosted by the return of Jesus, Arteta is expected to be working without another two of his central attacking options in Trossard and Nketiah for Thursday’s first leg.
Neither man was present in training on Wednesday morning, as Trossard nurses a groin problem sustained in the weekend’s win over Bournemouth, while Nketiah has an ankle injury.
Trossard is expected to miss Thursday’s game, but Arsenal are hopeful that the Belgian has not suffered a serious problem, and he should return before the upcoming international break.
As for Nketiah, the Englishman is also only thought to have a slim chance of playing, so Martinelli is in line to start through the middle, allowing Emile Smith Rowe to make his first start of the season on the left.
A fresh concern has also arisen in defence, as Europa League regular Kieran Tierney – who started all six games in the group stage – is not expected to make the journey due to illness.
Meanwhile, Sporting must cope without midfield regular Manuel Ugarte – who is suspended for the first leg – but Hector Bellerin could make an appearance against his old club.
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