The injury to his cruciate ligament will have kept him sidelined for nearly a year by that time. It’s commendable how he has fought through the setbacks once again.

World Cup Aspirations

Having endured a seventh injury spell with Arsenal could have caused many to give up, but it’s clear the 28-year-old possesses outstanding resilience.

With the World Cup approaching, this will likely motivate the Brazilian to stay focused. Should his form hold up in the latter half of the 2025/26 season, he may well secure a spot on the plane to the USA next summer.

Nevertheless, for him to be selected by Carlo Ancelotti, the striker needs to accumulate substantial playing time.

Currently, teammates Kai Havertz and Viktor Gyokeres are also recuperating but are likely to return shortly, which might make it challenging for Mikel Arteta to fit all of them into the starting eleven.

In such a scenario, Gabriel Jesus might find himself in an uncertain position.

Rumors of a January Transfer

Given this situation, speculation about a January transfer has surfaced, with both Everton and West Ham reportedly expressing interest. However, it seems Arteta has explicitly stated that the centre-forward won’t be departing until at least the summer transfer window.

While this could appear tough on the player and potentially counterproductive for the club seeking a reasonable transfer fee, Arteta’s viewpoint is understandable.

During Jesus’s initial season with Arsenal (2022/23), he netted 11 goals and provided six assists across 26 Premier League appearances, despite missing a considerable chunk of the season due to a knee injury.

In the following season (2023/24), he managed four goals and five assists in 27 games, though injuries continued to plague his performance, leading to him missing 17 matches due to three knee injuries and a hamstring concern.

Importantly, he added four goals and three assists over eight Champions League fixtures, demonstrating that with a decent run of injury-free games, Jesus has the potential to contribute significantly.

Before suffering another season-ending knee injury in 2024/25, he scored three times in 17 league matches, as well as four goals in four Carabao Cup contests, and provided one assist in the Champions League, showcasing his experience as a striker.

Inside the Box Specialist

Notably, every goal he scored for the club has originated from inside the box—a rarity for many players. Those familiar with Gabriel Jesus’s playing style recognize his excellent instinct for capitalizing on scoring opportunities within the penalty area.

His shooting accuracy reached an impressive 77.8%, with a shot conversion rate of 30.8% prior to his latest injury, highlighting his efficiency in front of goal.

Moreover, converting 60% of his big chances last season adds to his impressive record with an average goal every 75.3 minutes during the 2024/25 season, which positions him favorably compared to Gyokeres’ output of one goal every 200.5 minutes in 2025/26.

Given that the Swedish international is still acclimating to life in North London, he’s not guaranteed the primary striking role simply based on his transfer fee.

Training Performance

If Jesus shows strong performance in training sessions, he deserves every opportunity to vie for a regular starting position.

There must be some rationale behind Arteta’s reluctance to let him leave; neither the player nor the club would gain from retaining him only to see him waste away on the bench.

With another shot at the Premier League title appearing possible and an increasing fixture list due to the FA Cup, there are several reasons to believe Jesus could play a crucial role for Arsenal in the closing months of the season.

Having previously dealt with 18 different injuries since the 2016/17 season with Manchester City, fans hope he has finally moved past the injury woes that have shadowed his career in England.

Even if his journey leads him away from the club at the conclusion of the 2025/26 season, delivering standout performances will undoubtedly benefit both him and Arsenal.