LAGOS, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA) – Arsenal striker, Gabriel Jesus, has candidly discussed the challenges of recovering from an injury, expressing his hope that his knee problems are now behind him.
The Brazilian international missed a significant portion of the previous season due to an injury sustained at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Although he made a comeback towards the end of the season, he faced setbacks during the summer that necessitated further surgery.
Jesus believes that his recent surgery has addressed the issue, and he shared his feelings after returning to action as a substitute in Arsenal’s draw with Fulham and their dramatic victory over Manchester United, where he scored a stoppage-time goal.
He stated, “I’m feeling good. It’s tough when you come back from an injury after a holiday. I started to feel discomfort in my knee again, and it was unfortunate.”
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“After preseason, the pain persisted. I made the decision to undergo surgery as quickly as possible to return stronger.
“It was challenging, but now I’m making progress. Finding my rhythm again is crucial. So, I’m back, feeling good, and I’m happy.”
He further explained how his injury had initially resurfaced, saying, “At the end of last season, I felt perfectly fine, no issues at all.
“Even during my vacation, everything was fine. When I returned, in the first week, I still felt fine. However, after that, I started to feel discomfort.
“For me, it was a matter of ‘If I’m not at 100%, I won’t be myself.’ I tried to keep playing and training despite feeling it slightly, but it reached a point where I couldn’t run or move. So, I decided to undergo surgery — that’s how it happened.
“The first day after finding out is tough, but the day after, you realize you have to keep moving forward, keep fighting, and maintain a positive attitude.”
Jesus, who scored 11 goals for Arsenal last season after transferring from Manchester City, now faces competition from Eddie Nketiah for a starting position.
He welcomed the competition, acknowledging Nketiah’s dedication and hard work, and sees it as beneficial for both players and the club.
Arsenal, who have secured 10 points from four games in the 2023-24 season, will resume Premier League action after the international break with a trip to Everton on September 17th.