Medical insider reveals real reason for Gabriel Jesus ‘breaking down’ after Arsenal latest
The conditions likely played a large role as new Arsenal signing Gabriel Jesus struggled with cramp in the 4-0 pre-season win over Chelsea in Florida on Sunday (24 July).
That is the view of medical expert Ben Dinnery, who runs the Premier Injuries site and has a background in injury and data analysis.
Jesus, 25, has featured in all four of the Gunners’ friendlies since he signed from Man City for £45million earlier this month (4 July).
As relayed by sports science expert Dr Rajpal Brar on Twitter during the course of the match, he and 29-year-old teammate Granit Xhaka appeared to cramp up in the demolition of Chelsea.
Temperatures in Florida hit highs of 35°C in the build-up to the game, and Dr Brar suggested that the heat and humidity at the Camping World Stadium may have impacted the pair.
Dinnery echoed Dr Brar’s hypothesis.
“When you’re paying in that type of heat and humidity, it’s 100 per cent a possibility,” he told Football Insider’s Adam Williams.
“At this stage in pre-season, it’s a good opportunity for players to push themselves physically and psychologically. That’s what pre-season is all about, pushing yourself out of your comfort zone.
“We are no strangers to those high temperatures in the UK, although maybe not humidity-wise. Players need to adapt to it. It’s a question of taking on fluids.
“They are covering high distances at high intensity, so the conditions are always going to be a factor when we see these players temporarily breaking down.
“But the guys will always look after themselves and the medical team will make sure there is nothing sinister going in terms of the fatigue-related withdrawals from cramp.”
In other news, pundit expects Nicolas Pepe and two other Arsenal stars to exit after Sky reveal.