Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has confirmed that Gabriel Jesus is nearing a first-team return after 10 months out with an anterior cruciate ligament injury. The Brazilian has been working his way back to fitness but hasn't featured for the Gunners since January.

After 15 league games this season, Arsenal have suffered 15 injuries but the number of absentees have largely been a subplot

The jury is just about still out and waiting to deliver its verdict, but the sight of Gabriel Jesus instantly adding a touch of vim and vigour to Arsenal ’s forward line after nearly 12 months out will hardly have aided Viktor Gyokeres and the case for his defence.

Arsenal will turn their attention back to the Premier League following their mid-week Champions League fixture against Club Brugge. Mikel Arteta will be hoping his side responds well to the agonising 2-1 defeat they suffered last weekend in the away trip to Aston Villa, where they conceded in the 95th minute.

Gabriel Jesus could make his first appearance since January when Arsenal face Club Brugge on Wednesday night. Jesus has been added to Arsenal’s Champions League squad after Max Dowman injured his ankle last weekend.

Gabriel Martinelli has hailed Arsenal teammate Gabriel Jesus as ‘one of the best strikers in the world’ ahead of his long-awaited injury return. Jesus has been out for almost a year since suffering a serious ACL injury in Arsenal’s FA Cup defeat to Manchester United back in January.

Gabriel Jesus has taken another significant stride toward ending his lengthy spell on the sidelines, with the striker set to feature in a friendly against Manchester United with the Arsenal Under-21s on Saturday as part of his carefully managed rehabilitation programme.