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Arsenal star Gabriel Jesus has made several big admissions after returning from injury against Club Brugge in the Champions League
Gabriel Jesus has admitted he was scared to make his long-awaited return from injury but is now "more than ready" to help Arsenal over the busy Christmas period. The Brazil international played the final 28 minutes of the Champions League win over Club Brugge after missing the last 11 months with a serious knee injury.
Mikel Arteta has been carefully managing his comeback after such a long period out with his return to full team training arriving in early November and a behind-closed-doors friendly arranged for earlier this month to help him build up match minutes.
Jesus looked bright in his cameo off the bench in Belgium and he has now revealed how the moment felt and his fitness aim for the coming weeks.
He told Arsenal's official channels: “Everyone was expecting me to score and obviously, I wanted to score. I had some opportunities, but even with that, I'm so happy and so pleased, because to come back and then to have some touches that I had tonight, and then the way I could move, the way I could keep the ball.
“So with 11 months of helping myself and then feeling scared to come back different, maybe with some limitations, just to walk outside and then play with the boys, I'm so pleased. I feel more than ready. So, I'm here to say God saved my life.”
Arteta also spoke on Jesus' return after the 3-0 victory with the Gunners boss delighted he is back and very impressed by his display off the bench.
He said in a press conference: "So happy for him. I think you can see how much we all love him. It's been a very, very difficult and long journey.
"For 11 months, he's been fighting against another very difficult injury, and to see him back with that smile, with that energy and with that quality in his first performance with us is something really impressive, and we're all delighted for him."
The fixtures come thick and fast for Arsenal before 2025 concludes and, as such, Jesus will likely be needed. Over the next 19 days, Arsenal face Wolves, Everton, Brighton and Aston Villa in the Premier League with a Carabao Cup quarter-final against Crystal Palace coming between those.
Elsewhere, Leandro Trossard and William Saliba are dealing with minor issues and could therefore return as early as this weekend's clash against Wolves
More injury problems have emerged over the last few days with academy talent Max Dowman set for a spell on the sidelines. Arteta also revealed concerns regarding Jurrien Timber and Riccardo Calafiori ahead of his side's European match in Belgium.
"They both had issues from the weekend, both really bad kicks," Arteta confirmed pre-match in Belgium. "For Jurrien it was too early and for Ricci [Calafiori] we have to manage to see if he can do some minutes. [tonight]"
Calafiori did get on for the final 30 minutes, but he is suspended for Saturday's league match at Emirates Stadium.
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