Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus is expected to miss up to 10 games in all competitions after picking up a knee injury at the World Cup.
Jesus, 25, has started all of Arsenal's 14 Premier League fixtures this season, scoring five goals and providing six assists. The Brazilian's impressive form has helped the Gunners go five points clear of defending champions Manchester City at the top of the table.
Yet Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta will need to get used to life with out Jesus after the striker suffered medial ligament damage during Brazil's 1-0 defeat by Cameroon on Friday. Arsenal have confirmed Jesus has undergone surgery and will start his rehabiliation shortly.
According to physical therapy expert Dr Rajpal Brar, it takes around 12 weeks to recover from surgery on a medial ligament. Arsenal haven't confirmed the finer details of the surgery, yet the Daily Telegraph claims it was to repair the damaged medial ligament.
As such, Jesus can be expected to miss up to 10 games for Arsenal. He will definitely miss their first game after the World Cup against West Ham at the Emirates on Boxing Day and their trip to the Amex to face Brighton on New Year's Eve.
Jesus is also set to be unavailable for Arsenal's fixtures against Newcastle, Tottenham and Manchester United in January - as well as their FA Cup tie against Oxford. If they beat Oxford, Jesus will also miss the fourth round of the FA Cup, with the opponent to be confirmed.
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Arsenal will play five games in February, all of them without Jesus. They travel to Everton, Aston Villa and Leicester, while Brentford and Manchester City visit the Emirates.
Jesus will not be involved in the rest of Brazil's World Cup campaign but could still pick up a winners' medal. Tite's side have reached the quarter-finals of the tournament - where they will face Croatia on Friday - after a big 4-1 win against South Korea on Monday.
Jesus joined Arsenal from Manchester City in a £45million deal in July and has been praised for improving their fortunes. "[A] new confidence," said Arteta when asked what Jesus brings to his team after Arsenal's 3-0 win against Bournemouth in August.
"A new spark and that winning mentality that he has and the way he competes for every ball and the way he transmits his energy and his quality to the rest of the team. I think he is a really good role model for the rest of the boys."
Arteta could call on Jesus' deputy, Eddie Nketiah, to play in his absence. The 23-year-old is regarded as a huge prospect by the Gunners but hasn't scored in any of his 12 Premier League outings this term. Brazilian teenager Marquinhos is another forward option.
Alternatively, Arteta and sporting director Edu might decide to dip into the transfer window in January. Arsenal are reportedly interested in Mykhailo Mudryk, a 21-year-old winger who's scored 10 goals and provided eight assists for Shakhtar Donetsk this season.
