Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has revealed that Gabriel Jesus is fit enough to start against Sheffield United on Monday night. The Gunners have several injury concerns heading into the trip to Bramall Lane, with Jurrien Timber still ruled out.
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Arsenal are currently third in the Premier League, just two points behind league-leaders Liverpool. The Gunners have high hopes of lifting the title, though injury problems are threatening to damage their aspirations.
They travel to relegation-battling Sheffield United with several key stars ruled out, particularly in defence. However, Arsenal fans were offered good news by Arteta in his pre-match press conference as the Spaniard has revealed that Jesus is fit enough to start against the Blades.
He said: “He’s fit enough. How long he will last that’s very different. We didn’t want to take any risks. We need him fit and now we want to make sure we load him in the right way.”
Thomas Partey is also set to return to the first team squad, with Arteta adding: “Thomas [Partey] had a session before the last game, now he’s done two or three sessions. He should be part of the squad on Monday.”
Despite the two returning stars, Arsenal will be without several defenders for the trip to Sheffield – with Takehiro Tomiyasu and Oleksandr Zinchenko in a race against time to be fit enough to feature in the matchday squad. Asked about the pair, Arteta replied: “Those ones it’s possible but we’ll have to wait and see. If that’s the case they might be available on Monday.”
Tomiyasu has not featured for Arsenal since he returned from the Asian Cup with Japan, with the injury being sustained in his side's clash with Iran. Arteta explained: “He had an injury in the last game for Japan. He was out. We expected it to be a little bit shorter but he struggled in the recovery so we extended that period to be more certain. We didn't want to risk losing him for months.”
Summer signing Jurrien Timber will definitely not be in the squad to face Chris Wilder’s side though, with the Dutch international still recovering from an ACL injury he sustained on the opening day of the season.
The versatile defender has now returned to Arsenal training but ‘is not close enough’ to reappear. However, Timber has made an impact despite his limited minutes, with Arteta revealing that staff have been impressed by the ex-Ajax star’s attitude throughout the recovery. He said: “It’s been a joy. The physios and medical staff have been impressed with his attitude. Now we have to manage because it’s the last stage of that difficult injury but I think he’s in the right way."
