Gabriel Jesus is BACK for Arsenal for the first time since November

Gabriel Jesus is BACK! Brazilian striker comes off the bench against Fulham to play for Arsenal for the first time since November… and he’s greeted with a HUGE roar from the travelling fans

  • Gabriel Jesus had missed Arsenal’s last 12 league games through injury
  • He was brought off the bench at Fulham, much to the delight of travelling fans
  • Jesus picked up an injury at the World Cup and has not played since November 

Arsenal fans celebrated the return of Gabriel Jesus like a goal at Fulham as he made his return to action for the first time since November. 

Ringing the changes up 3-0, Gunners boss Mikel Arteta gave the nod to the Brazilian, who has missed Arsenal’s last 12 Premier League games after a picking up an injury during the World Cup in Qatar.

On in place of Leandro Trossard, who picked up three assists in an electric first 45 minutes for Arsenal, Jesus was greeted with a huge roar from the travelling fans at Craven Cottage. 

It was almost a dream return from Jesus, who struggled with a knee injury picked up in Qatar, when he was denied from close range by Bernd Leno after a clever one-two with Fabio Vieira. 

His return is timely for Arsenal as they face a race to the finish with Manchester City in the battle for the Premier League title. 

Gabriel Jesus got his first minutes since November as he came on away against Fulham

Mikel Arteta turned to Jesus as a late substitute with Arsenal cruising towards a 3-0 win

‘Huge [to have him back],’ Arteta told Sky Sports before the game. 

‘His presence, what he transmits to the teams, the experience he has in these types of games, he’s a huge player for us. 

‘He’s changed our dynamic, he’s changed our belief he’s put the team in a different status and it’s great to have him back.’ 

There was to be no goal for him in his short cameo but Arsenal pulled five points clear with a thoroughly comprehensive win over a short-handed Fulham.

The striker’s Brazilian compatriots Gabriel and Gabriel Martinelli headed them into a 2-0 lead. 

From there Fulham tried to rally but a third goal from captain Martin Odegaard iced the game before half-time and it gave Arteta the freedom to give minutes to players on the periphery, including Jesus as he returns from injury. 

Jesus was unlucky not to get on the scoresheet – but he was denied smartly by Bernd Leno

Speaking about the Brazilian earlier this week, Arteta added: ‘He needs time as well to get himself that confidence and that physical state that is necessary to compete with a free mind and once he’s free to do that, we will throw him in.’

Team-mate Martinelli added: ‘For sure, it will be a big (boost). He is a great guy and a great player. 

‘For me he is one of the best in the world. For sure, he is going to help us a lot in the next few months.’ 

Jesus will be pushing for a start when Arsenal host Crystal Palace next weekend. 


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