Arsenal make U-turn on January transfer as Mikel Arteta fears decision coming back to bite him

The world of football is a fast moving one, as Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is finding out the hard way with one U-turn ahead of the January transfer window

Gabriel Jesus looks set to remain at Arsenal despite Mikel Arteta reportedly being willing to sell the striker last summer. With Viktor Gyokeres arriving from Sporting Lisbon in a £63.7million transfer, Jesus' days in north London looked numbered.

However, now that the ex-Manchester City striker has appeared to overcome his injury issues, Arteta looks to have reversed his decision and is now keen to give him a chance. With Gyokeres struggling to get to grips with the Premier League, it appears Jesus will be needed to help the Gunners compete on four fronts.

He started Arsenal's victory over Crystal Palace in the League Cup quarter-final, although he was taken off before Arteta's side won on penalties. While Jesus' exit looked close to inevitable in the January transfer window, he looks set to remain in situ.

According to the Athletic, Arsenal will most likely hold onto the Brazilian as best as they can. With the north Londoners boasting one of the best squads in Europe, it's believed they are in no rush to bring new signings through the door.

It's also understood Jesus has "re-asserted himself as an important" figure in Arteta's squad, suggesting he is no longer being considered as a dispensable star. In October, the Mail claimed the prospect of Arsenal selling Jesus after Christmas was high.

Now it appears they are happy to hold onto Jesus to ensure there is enough cover in the forward areas. Gyokeres missed most of November through injury, resulting in Arsenal deploying Mikel Merino, a natural midfielder, at centre-forward again.

However, now that Jesus is back to full fitness, Arteta said he will be handing the 64-cap Brazilian international more opportunities. In his press conference before Arsenal's League Cup clash against Palace, Arteta said: "You can see now, not only in games but every day in training, how much he wants it. He’s going to deserve a chance soon.

"I watched him when he was seven months [off] the pitch, and the way he was moving and how much he wanted it. I think he wrote a beautiful letter [on The Players’ Tribune ] explaining what football means to him and how it affects his life. It was something beautiful.

"I think that’s probably the biggest quality of Gabi: bringing people together, connecting with people and generating a lot of uncertainty in the opponent. When you’ve seen [against Everton] the amount of spaces that he was involved in, that’s his biggest quality – so we need to exploit that.

"It’s been a really intense journey, I would say. I think when he joined us, he lifted the belief, the spirit and the energy of the club and the team.

"I think he gave something very different to what we already had and it was really impressive. And then he had some very bad injuries that haven’t allowed him to have the consistency that we need from a very important player.

"But he’s back. I think his fighting spirit, his desire to always prepare the best way… it’s unbelievable. The team has got it now and we need to use it.”

Jesus will have an eye on being involved in the Gunners' home clash against Brighton and Hove Albion on December 27.