Pundit issues emphatic Arsenal dressing room claim after Gabriel Jesus latest
Frank McAvennie has backed Eddie Nketiah to keep his place in the Arsenal XI when Gabriel Jesus returns.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former West Ham striker insisted the Gunners will be delighted to have Jesus’ experience back on the pitch once he returns from injury.
As quoted by football.london (6 February), Mikel Arteta said the 25-year-old is progressing well but is still “a bit far” from a return.
It is hoped the forward will be back in action by the end of the month.
The Brazilian suffered ligament damage playing for his national team during the World Cup and has since had surgery on the injury.
Nketiah, 23, has been filling in for Jesus and has been in the starting lineup for every game since the Premier League return after the World Cup.
He has scored four goals in those six appearances.
When asked if it will be a big relief for Arsenal when Jesus returns, McAvennie told Football Insider: “I do not think they have missed him.
“Nketiah is scoring goals and you can see Arteta was able to bring that out of him.
“Jesus coming back is competition now. Arsenal changed as soon as him and [Oleksandr] Zinchenko came from Man City. Two winners walked into that dressing room and just changed the direction of everyone in there.
“There are a lot of young players in that squad who do not have that much experience. So Jesus coming back, he has been there, seen it done it.“
In other news, an expert expects Arsenal star Mohamed Elneny to miss ‘rest of the season’.