Mikel Arteta has revealed that Gabriel Jesus is "pushing" for a return from injury - but the Arsenal manager can't give a timescale yet.
Jesus, 25, last featured for the Gunners nearly three full months ago prior to the World Cup, during which he suffered a serious knee injury. The Brazilian striker recently got back on the grass and buoyed fans with the prospect of his return to boost Arsenal's Premier League title charge, but Arteta has told supporters to be patient.
"Gabi is doing really well, he's already been outside a little bit," the Gunners boss began on Friday. "It's still early stages, he keeps pushing everybody every single day, but we need to respect timelines and processes. He's doing really well."
Asked for a timescale on when Jesus could be back in action, Arteta admitted: "Not yet, too far off that. You have to see now when you start putting some loads on that knee and you start to get some movements and actions that are not as controlled as the ones he's had, how it reacts and whether he's comfortable to go to the next stage."
The Spaniard then went on to say: "The players who were out for a long time like Emile [Smith Rowe], Reiss [Nelson] and Gabi they are closer. They started to do some work outside but they are not ready to contribute yet."
Arteta's comments come after the ex-Manchester City star posted an image of himself on social media wearing a pair of football boots. Jesus gleefully wrote the caption: "After 8 weeks," alongside some cheerful emojis. But it seems that deputy striker Eddie Nketiah will be leading the line for a while yet, and the Englishman's manager is delighted with his contribution.
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In an interview with Sky Sports, Arteta explained: "The good news is that another academy player like Eddie, who has been very patient and has been working hard and has been evolving in the way that we wanted, now he has the opportunity to show what he can do and he certainly is."
That praise was echoed by Manchester United legend Gary Neville, who this week named Nketiah as the player who's most surprised him this Premier League season. "I'm going to go Nketiah," Neville declared on The Overlap. "Because I thought when Jesus got injured, I thought that could be [a problem]. But he's played really well for Arsenal."
Fellow United icon Roy Keane has even compared the 23-year-old to Arsenal legend Ian Wright. "Like Ian used to do, not getting many touches but that sharpness in the box, which we see as well for the winning goal," Keane told Sky Sports. "If you're hanging around the box and you're a sharp striker, you'll get your chances and your goals."
