Arsenal secured a vital 3-2 victory over Premier League rivals Manchester United on Sunday afternoon, restoring their five-point advantage over Manchester City at the top of the table.
A clinical brace from Eddie Nketiah either side of a wonderful Bukayo Saka strike clinched all three points for the Gunners, who play the Citizens at the Etihad Stadium on Friday evening. Mikel Arteta hasn't faced his former mentor Pep Guardiola yet this term but the two Spaniards will have to wait before they do battle in the league, with this week's match in the fourth round of the FA Cup.
Ahead of the highly-anticipated clash, football.london takes a look at all the latest injury concerns Arteta has, with former City forward Gabriel Jesus still on the sidelines after injuring his knee during Brazil's World Cup campaign.
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Gabriel Jesus
Jesus suffered medial ligament damage whilst playing for Brazil against Cameroon in the World Cup group stages. The 25-year-old later returned to London to undergo surgery on his knee, with an expectation that he will be out for at least another month of footballing action.
Speaking to former UFC Champion Khabib Nurmagomedov at Emirates Stadium on Sunday, Jesus admitted he hopes to be back on the pitch in "four to five weeks".
Expected return date: February / March 2023.
What Arteta has said: "He’s progressing really well, he’s working really hard, he’s in the right place in terms of the time that we set for him, but he’s still a bit far.
"I’d like to see him very quickly but I don’t think it’s gonna happen. We’re gonna have to be patient with that one. But let’s see. It’s a complicated surgery, in any surgery, there are always a lot of things were you have to be cautious He’s a player that’s going to push to be really fast on the pitch."
Reiss Nelson
The extent of Nelson's hamstring injury is currently unknown, but Arteta admitted after the friendly with Juventus that it could be problematic.
A positive update has recently emerged with Nelson posting on his Instagram story where he is seen running on the treadmill.
What Arteta has said: "We don't know the extent of the injury. The fact that he had to leave the pitch straight away is not good news, especially with someone like Reiss who is really powerful and fast. Let's see what will happen. We know what we have to do and that doesn't change the plans [for the transfer window]."
Expected return date: Unknown.
Mohamed Elneny
Elneny started last the FA Cup win over Oxford United and played the whole 90 minutes. However, the Egyptian was not included in Arteta's squad for the win at Tottenham, with the Gunners assessing a knee issue picked up in training ahead of the Tottenham clash, with no place on the bench to face Manchester United.
Expected return date: N/A
Ben White
White was withdrawn at half time of the clash against Manchester United with Takehiro Tomiyasu replacing him. It does not appear the 25-year-old has picked up an injury as he was on yellow card after facing a highly in-form Marcus Rashford, with Arteta likely withdrawing him because he was concerned he could get sent off.
Expected return date: Man City (A) January 27
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