Arsenal star goes off injured on stretcher vs Man Utd in large blow to title hopes
Arsenal star Gabriel Jesus had to be stretched off against Manchester United following a horror injury.
The Brazilian, 27, was part of the starting side on Sunday (January 12) as the Gunners opened up their FA Cup campaign against the holders. However, just before half-time, Jesus appeared to jar his knee when he was defending a United attack.
Jesus had been marking Bruno Fernandes, when he clipped the Portuguese star’s heels in the penalty area. Fernandes was furious, and immediately demanded a penalty – however, his protests were waved away by referee Andrew Madley.
Fernandes was able to return to his feet as Jesus stayed on the Emirates Stadium turf. Replays appeared to show the Brazilian jarring his knee on the way down.
Medics were summoned onto the pitch as Jesus was placed on a stretcher and replaced by Raheem Sterling.
“Might as well give Liverpool the title now because as Jesus is on the shelf now,” one fan sighed. While a second added: “Saka injured. His cover (Jesus) also injured. If we don’t sign a forward, we’re the most unserious ‘title challengers’.”
“After Jesus’s injury, Liverpool have to be the luckiest team in history,” a third posted.
And another said: “Gabriel Jesus getting stretchered off before the half. Hope the player is ok, very scary. Further evidence Arsenal need to splash on a #9 with him out now…”
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Arsenal are already without their star Bukayo Saka. Ahead of Sunday’s clash Arteta told Saka he wants the winger to use his gut-wrenching injury lay-off as an opportunity to return “a better person”.
Arteta said: “He’s been around a lot. It’s great to have him. There’s always a smile on his face. He’s going through a period that is unknown for him because he has never been injured for such a long time.
“We have discussed the things we can do together and the things he can do to use the time in the right way to make him a better person, to make sure that he spends the time adequately with the opportunity that he has, so that when he comes back he is in the right place.”
