Mikel Arteta has dismissed the idea of Gabriel Jesus departing from Arsenal during the January transfer window.
The 28-year-old made his much-anticipated return to first-team action on Wednesday, coming on as a substitute in the 62nd minute during Arsenal’s 3-0 Champions League victory over Club Brugge.
Jesus had been out of action since January after undergoing knee surgery, stating that “God saved my life” as he dealt with “11 months of self-improvement, accompanied by fears of returning to play differently or with limitations.”
Competition for a starting position will be fierce, as €73 million ($85.6m) summer signing Viktor Gyökeres is fit again, while Kai Havertz is on the brink of returning to full fitness after his own knee issues.
In the absence of this attacking trio, midfielder Mikel Merino has flourished in a makeshift centre-forward role, leading to speculation that Jesus might seek a move in January to secure his place in the Brazil squad for next summer’s World Cup.
When asked about the possibility of Jesus leaving next month during a press conference on Friday, Arteta responded, “No, I’m not considering that, especially given our current situation. I believe Gabby has a lot to contribute to the team, and he is already demonstrating that in the early minutes since returning. He has invested so much effort to reach this point, and now the focus should be with us.”
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“A player of his caliber who has contributed so much to our team and comes back with the energy he showed recently is definitely someone who should be vying for a starting position.”
Arteta was also cautious when addressing his squad’s injuries, revealing that Declan Rice, Jurriën Timber, William Saliba, and Leandro Trossard will all undergo assessments to determine their availability for the match against Wolves on Saturday.
Wolves currently sit at the bottom of the Premier League, having secured only two points this season. When questioned on how to avoid complacency, Arteta remarked, “By recognizing that a team in that position will definitely respond and fight back. That poses a significant threat in this league, and given the quality of every team, we are not going to let ourselves be complacent.”