This season is shaping up to be one of Arsenal's best in a very, very long time.
Now, there is still a lot of football to be played, but going into the third international break of the campaign, Mikel Arteta has his side top of the Premier League and with four wins from four in the Champions League.
What makes it all the more impressive is the fact that, aside from the defence, there is a real sense that the team aren't even operating at their best.
mikel-arteta-arsenal-premier-league
Moreover, the club have a significant number of injured players set to return in the coming weeks, which will massively bolster the squad, although it might also make it clear that a certain player appreciated by Thierry Henry needs to be moved on.
Arsenal's injury crisis
Now, Arsenal supporters will be the first to admit that the team just weren't good enough to win the league last season.
However, a significant reason why the side was lacklustre on the domestic front was the absurd number of injuries Arteta has to deal with.
Understandably, the club sought to avoid a similar situation this year by signing eight first-team quality players in the summer, rather than spending record sums on individual players.
Arsenal's Summer Signings
Player
Kepa Arrizabalaga
Eberechi Eze
Viktor Gyokeres
Piero Hincapie
Noni Madueke
Cristhian Mosquera
Christian Norgaard
Martin Zubimendi
It's an approach that has already paid off multiple times this season, as even though it hasn't been discussed as much, the squad has once again dealt with a barrage of injuries this season.
Noni Madueke was able to cover for Bukayo Saka; Cristhian Mosquera covered for Gabriel Mahgaelese; Eberechi Eze stood in for Martin Odegaard, and Viktor Gyokeres was thrown into the deep end in place of the injured Kai Havertz.
gyokeres
However, the dam can only hold out for so long, and over the last few weeks, the injury list has grown too significant, with Mikel Merino once again starting up top for two matches in a row.
In all, Arsenal were without six first-team players for the draw against Sunderland, and all six of them were attacking players, which helps explain why the bench looked so short on options and why the manager brought on only Mosquera.
The good news is that most of them will be back in contention after the international break, and all should be available to play by the new year.
However, that means the squad could become quite bloated in attack, and so it might be time to sell someone Henry was once very complimentary about.
The Arsenal star who should be sold
With Gyokeres and Madueke being summer signings and Havertz clearly a firm favourite of Arteta, it feels like, of all the injured players, it's £45m man, Gabriel Jesus, who should be moved on.
Gabriel-Jesus-Arsenal
Now, that is no indictment of the player himself, as at his best, the former Manchester City star was almost unplayable and capable of things that no other Arsenal attacker could even think of doing.
That's not hyperbole either, as following a particularly impressive showing against Seville, the legendary Henry said he "would have loved to play with him" due to his close control and ability to create for others.
However, that was over two years ago, and it's been over three years since he was at his utterly incredible best.
Since then, there have been flashes of that sensational ability, but every time he seems to build up any steam, he goes down with another injury.
Gabriel-Jesus-Arsenal
Since the start of his Arsenal career in the 22/23 season, the Brazilian international has been injured seven times, which has seen him spend a grand total of 559 days on the sidelines and miss 90 games for club and country.
It doesn't really matter how talented a player is; if they are that unreliable, then they are not an asset to a club.
Jesus' injury record
Season
24/25
23/24
22/23
20/21
19/20
18/19
17/18
16/17
All Stats via Transfermarkt
Moreover, it's not like the 28-year-old is on a modest wage; he's currently earning a whopping £265k-per-week, which makes him the second-highest earner at the club.
Ultimately, Jesus is undeniably an excellent footballer, but he's just never available when the club need him and considering he has such an enormous wage, it might be time to sell him in the winter, or at the end of the season.