While the World Cup has brought entertainment to the lives of many football fans for the last two weeks, fears eventually became reality for the Arsenal faithful after an injury to star man Gabriel Jesus ruled him out of the tournament.
There had been very little information available since the Brazilian left Qatar over the weekend, but Arsenal confirmed on Tuesday that he had undergone successful surgery on his knee and that a rehab programme would start immediately.
It is a significant blow to Jesus - and Arsenal - who currently sit top of the Premier League after fourteen games. His summer arrival from Manchester City has transformed Mikel Arteta’s side, proving to be instrumental to the team's impressive start to the season.
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At this time, Arsenal deem it too early to put a timeframe on Jesus’ recovery, however, reports suggest he could be on the sidelines for up to three months. It means Eddie Nketiah will likely become the starting striker for a number of important fixtures, but his record of three goals in 19 appearances has left fans concerned.
Nketiah was awarded the No.14 shirt after signing a new deal with the club in the summer, signalling the trust Arteta has in him. There’s little doubt over the 23-year-old’s attitude and commitment, but the difference in quality between himself and Jesus remains obvious.
With his new contract and improved role under Arteta in mind, it would be surprising to see Arsenal dip into the winter market to sign direct cover for the absent Jesus. However, there appear to be two obvious candidates should Edu be instructed to find a replacement.
One of which is Atletico Madrid’s Joao Felix. The Portugal international arrived in Spain as one of the most highly-rated and sought-after youngsters in the world, but a rocky relationship with manager Diego Simeone and a lack of game time have reportedly left him searching for a way out.
Recently speaking to TVE, Atletico chief executive Gil Marin confirmed the club is ready to offload Felix if a suitable offer is made. "I personally think he's a top talent, a world class player," he began.
"For reasons it isn't worth getting into – the relationship between him and the boss, the minutes played, his motivation right now – it makes you think that the reasonable thing is that if there's an option that's good for the player, good for the club, we can look at it. I'd love him to stay personally, but I don't think that's the player's idea," Marin added.
According to Spanish outlet Relevo, Arsenal are one of the clubs to have 'asked' about the player, although Atletico Madrid's apparent asking price of €140million (£120million) could prove problematic. However, previous reports have suggested that Felix could also be available on loan with an option to buy, potentially handing the Gunners a chance.
Throughout his career so far, Felix has played as a centre forward, second striker and winger, scoring 67 goals and providing 35 assists across 216 appearances. He would offer Arteta impressive versatility and a much-needed goal threat, as well as similar qualities to Jesus when in possession.
The second obvious choice would be long-term target, Tammy Abraham. According to various reports in Italy, AS Roma would be willing to sell the striker for around €45million (£38million) after he became unhappy at the Serie A club. It was reported that Arsenal looked at the 25-year-old when he was at Chelsea, seemingly retaining an interest since.
Abraham hit the ground running in Italy, bagging 27 goals in 53 appearances. However, a dip in form this season saw him miss out on a place in Gareth Southgate's World Cup squad. Despite his recent struggles, Abraham still possesses a lot of quality and would bring something different to the Arsenal frontline with his strength and tall build.
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