Arsenal face a challenging start to the new season with news that Gabriel Jesus is side-lined due to a knee injury.

His absence will be felt keenly in the upcoming matches, sparking discussions about the club’s ability to cope without him.

• Arsenal forward Gabriel Jesus is ruled out for ‘the next few weeks’ due to a knee injury.
• This has opened opportunities for other forwards like Eddie Nketiah to step up.
• The team now faces a challenge to re-strategise for the upcoming Premier League season, beginning with Nottingham Forest on August 12.

In an unfortunate turn of events, Arsenal’s Brazilian forward, Gabriel Jesus, is expected to be out for a few weeks due to a knee injury.

The news broke after Arsenal’s victory on penalties against Monaco in the Emirates Cup.

The extent of the injury is yet to be confirmed, adding a layer of uncertainty to Arsenal’s preparations for the forthcoming Premier League campaign.

After the game, Arteta said, “Unfortunately, he has had a little procedure this morning, he had some discomfort in his knee that has been causing some issues and they had to go in and resolve it.

“It’s not something major, but he’s going to be out for a few weeks I think.

“It’s a big blow because we had him back to his best, especially with the way he played against Barcelona, and he was in good condition, and we’ve lost him.

“He’s been feeling some discomfort in the last few weeks, we had to look at it and we had to make a decision and the best one is to protect the player and get him back as quickly as possible, so we decided to do it.

“It’s something related to the previous injury that he had and the surgery. He had some irritation in the knee and we had to get it resolved.”

With Jesus ruled out, this paved the way for English forward Eddie Nketiah to lead the Arsenal attack in the Emirates Cup clash.

Nketiah was even handed the captain’s armband by manager Mikel Arteta, signifying the trust he has in the young striker’s potential.

The absence of Jesus, and fellow forward Folarin Balogun due to injury, has pushed other players, including Nketiah, into the spotlight.

Arteta’s men are due to face Manchester City in the Community Shield at Wembley on Sunday, followed by the Premier League campaign opener at home against Nottingham Forest on August 12.

Last season, Jesus missed a large chunk of the season due to knee surgery. His absence now again raises questions on the impact this might have on the overall performance of the team.

Arsenal’s forward line in the Emirates Cup comprised Fabio Vieira, Gabriel Martinelli and Nketiah, with Declan Rice making his home debut.

With Jesus on the sidelines, these players now have the opportunity to make their mark in the starting XI.

Their performances could provide Arteta with some compelling choices for the new season.

Despite the setback with Jesus’s injury, Arsenal remain confident and ready to tackle the challenges of the upcoming season.

Their resolve to move forward and adapt to changes will play a crucial role in the success of their campaign.