Gabriel Jesus gives Arsenal fans an injury update following successful surgery #AFC

STATEMENT 

‘I will be back stronger’ – Arsenal star Gabriel Jesus posts hospital bed picture following successful knee surgery as Bukayo Saka and Granit Xhaka send support

Gabriel Jesus has vowed to come ‘back stronger’ as he delivered a message to Arsenal fans from his hospital bed following his knee operation.

The 25-year-old underwent successful surgery on Tuesday after suffering medial ligament damage in his right knee.

Jesus picked up the knock during Brazil’s 1-0 defeat to Cameroon in their Group G finale where he was taken off in the 64th minute.

It was initially said how Jesus would miss just one month of action, but scans revealed the striker had to go under the knife.

And the ex-Manchester City star has taken to Instagram where he delivered a positive message to Gunners supporters.

Providing an update on his health, he said: “God is wonderful. I will be back stronger.”

Jesus is likely to miss up to three months of action with the typical recovery time of an MCL injury between 10-12 weeks.

That would see Jesus step back onto the pitch in February where he would miss a number of key matches for the table-toppers.

In January alone Mikel Arteta‘s men face top four rivals Newcastle, Tottenham and Manchester United.

And Arteta will be desperate to have Jesus back to face his former employers City on February 15 at the Emirates.

Eddie Nketiah will now be tasked with leading the line in Jesus’ absence.

Nketiah is yet to start a Premier League game since the Brazilian’s arrival, with the England youth international without a top-flight goal this term.

It remains to be seen whether Arsenal bring in a new centre-forward in January to ease the burden on the 23-year-old.

England forward Bukayo Saka has revealed he sent a text message to his teammate after being left gutted when he heard about Jesus’ injury news.

Speaking to the media on Monday, he said: “He’s a very, very, very important player for us [Arsenal] and it’s not good to hear the news.

“Obviously I’ve messaged him and I think he’s going to see the doctor and see what he needs to do for the next steps.

“It’s definitely not good news when I heard that.”

Meanwhile Granit Xhaka remarked: “I don’t know how big the injury is, maybe two or three months, I think, but he is a strong guy.

“It’s a small injury for him I think and we will support him. He knows that we are behind him and hopefully we can get him back as quick as possible.”