Arsenal's Lost Gem Makes Triumphant Return to Training as Teammates Celebrate His Comeback
Mikel Arteta expressed his delight with how the squad welcomed Gabriel Jesus back as the striker made his long-awaited return to team training.
The Brazil international has been absent from the Premier League table-toppers for nearly 10 months after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury during Arsenal's FA Cup third-round match against Manchester United last January.
Jesus has endured multiple fitness setbacks during his time in English football, affecting both his Arsenal career and his previous stint at Manchester City, with this recent injury requiring extensive rehabilitation work.
Unable to participate in the early phases of the 2025–26 Champions League campaign, Jesus was omitted from Arsenal's European squad when it was finalized during the summer, though he remains available for Premier League selection—the 28-year-old having been registered by the club at the season's start.
A significant step forward in Jesus's comeback occurred on Thursday when he rejoined team training, with Arteta expressing enthusiasm about his development during his recent pre-match media briefing.
"Clearly, he's been working individually until now; today he's training alongside teammates, highly competitive teammates, and we'll see how he handles that environment," the Spanish manager explained. "He's brimming with enthusiasm, and I was thrilled by how all his colleagues welcomed him back into the group—it's wonderful to have him with us again."
Regarding a possible comeback timeline, he noted: "That's uncertain at this point; it's now about taking things step by step in this new environment."
Arteta Optimistic About Additional Injury Recoveries
Arteta also addressed Arsenal's broader injury concerns, which have affected multiple crucial first-team members. Kai Havertz has been unavailable for several months, and he's now been joined in the medical room by Noni Madueke, Gabriel Martinelli, skipper Martin Ødegaard, and expensive summer acquisition Viktor Gyökeres.
There seems to be hope for possible comebacks against Sunderland, with Arteta responding to questions about their availability: "I can't guarantee all of that, but your assessment isn't far off."
Following the weekend encounter with Sunderland, the Premier League pauses for the final international break of 2025—offering one last opportunity for club football recovery before the demanding Christmas fixture list begins.
Arteta remained cautiously optimistic about having all his injured players ready when Arsenal resume action, indicating that numerous factors would need to align perfectly for the Gunners to achieve their desired outcome.
"Some of them, possibly all of them—I'm not certain," Arteta reflected on immediate returns following the international period. "Many things need to fall into place over the coming fortnight, and everything must go smoothly, but I believe we'll be very close to having most of them back in an excellent position."