Manchester City have confirmed that Gabriel Jesus will miss Saturday evening’s Premier League meeting with Arsenal. The 23-year-old has a muscle injury that kept him out of our EFL Cup win over Bournemouth (September 24), 5-2 defeat to Leicester City (September 27), EFL Cup win over Burnley (September 30) and 1-1 draw with Leeds United (October 3).
Jesus’ only appearance this season came in our opening game win over Wolverhampton Wanderers (September 21). The Brazilian international is finally recovering, but Pep Guardiola doesn’t want to exacerbate his injury by playing him when he isn’t fully fit.
Where will Manchester City finish this season?
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
He said in Friday’s pre-match press conference: “There are injuries to some muscles where you can take a risk, but there are others where you cannot. (Jesus) has an injury in the part of his leg where if he injured it more he could be out for a long time. I don’t know if he’ll be back for the Champions League.”
In Jesus’ absence this weekend, Guardiola could call upon Raheem Sterling or Riyad Mahrez to lead the line as Sergio Aguero is still out of action. The 31-year-old hasn’t played this season after injuring his knee in June. Guardiola ruled him out for another two months in September, so we may not see him in October.
After Arsenal, we’ll have four remaining games this month – FC Porto (October 21) in the Champions League, West Ham United (October 24) in the Premier League, Olympique Marseille (October 27) in the Champions League, Sheffield United (October 31) in the Premier League – and Aguero could miss them all.
Sterling (3) and Mahrez (1) have four goals between them this season, but Jesus’ return will be a big boost. The £54m-rated striker has contributed seven goals in his last six league appearances and returned to form before his injury.
In other news, Manchester City have another injury blow ahead of Saturday’s meeting with Arsenal