Arteta likes what he has seen from one of his summer signingsplaceholder image
Arteta likes what he has seen from one of his summer signings | AFP via Getty Images
Arsenal’s form so far this season has seen a lengthy injury list largely ignored but Mikel Arteta could welcome back one of his most experienced players soon.
Mikel Arteta can’t do any wrong just now as his Arsenal side continues to pick up wins and clean sheets.
The Gunners manager is almost at the stage where he could pick any starting XI and still expect the same level of performance and result despite one of the longest injury lists in the Premier League. Getting experienced players back from his lengthy injury list will be key to staying on top of the pile and there has been good news ahead of the trip to face Sunderland.
Gabriel Jesus returns to Arsenal training
Posting on X, the club’s official page posted footage of Gabriel Jesus returning to first team training having been out of action since January with an interview on the club's website giving an insight into the frustration of being injured for so long: "Yes, 100 per cent, in terms of my personal life, and the way I see things outside of the pitch as well. I was in the best moment of my career.
“I was looking after all the areas in my life and I was feeling absolutely great. I mean I was doing much better than I was when I was younger. But despite that, I picked up this injury. So now I know that it's never enough.
"You need to look after yourself even more. You have to be clever to be able to play all season. That’s what I think now, I need to control training, because I’m a player who always goes outside and gives 100%. If you don’t control it properly, it can be a problem."
Arteta looks forward to seeing injured stars return
Jesus has been hugely unlucky but Arteta will still welcome the Brazil international back, although managing his minutes for the long-term is the priority. There should be no rush to get the 28-year old back to full speed.
Being back in full training is one thing, now Jesus has to get used to the contact and physicality as well as the mental side of recovering. In the early days, he will still be wary about set-backs and of missing more game time which is why patience is a virtue. Giving an injury update this week via the club’s official website, Arteta could soon be seeing Jesus as well as other injured stars: "It's difficult to put a game, you know that we have the international break, which is a two-week break there, and after that I think we'll have some back. I don't know if it's going to be all of them, some of them, but we'll be quite close by then.”
"I'm excited because they are tremendous players,” Arteta said about the prospect of having senior players back for the North London derby. “I see them work every single day, how desperate they are to be part of the team, the huge boost that is going to be for the squad to have those players again after such a long, long time. I'm really happy that I think it's going to be very soon."
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