Gabriel Jesus will not be shipped out of Arsenal during the January transfer window as Mikel Arteta wishes to integrate him back into the team after his latest injury comeback.
Jesus returned from a long injury layoff on Wednesday night, coming off the bench during Arsenal’s 3-0 Champions League win at Club Brugge after being out of action since January.
The striker performed well, but the prospect of him leaving next month when the transfer window opens has been mooted.
Jesus will have just 18 months left on his contract then and Arteta also has three other striker options at his disposal in Kai Havertz, Mikel Merino and Viktor Gyokeres.
Gabriel Jesus prays at full-time following the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD6 match between Club Brugge and Arsenal FC. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)
But, asked about the possibility of selling Jesus in January, Arteta said: “I don’t consider that, especially with the situation we have right now.
“I think Gabby has a lot to offer to the team – and he has proven that straight away, in the first minutes that he was available to play.
“He has put so much to be in this position again and now the focus is to be with us.”
Jesus put in an impressive display during his 30-minute cameo off the bench in Belgium on Wednesday night. The Brazil international looked sharp, and he hit the crossbar with one effort.
However, he has lots of competition in his number nine position, but Arteta believes he will be up for the fight.
“A player of his quality, a player that is giving us so much, it comes with the energy that he came with the other day,” said Arteta.
“He is certainly a player that has to be pushing and aiming for that, that’s for sure.”
Jesus replaced Gyokeres on Wednesday night, with the Swede drawing a blank on what was his first start since early November.
Gyokeres has been out of action with a hamstring injury, but before that he had scored six goals since joining Arsenal in the summer from Sporting for over £60million.
The Sweden international will now he eager to get back to his best as Jesus hopes to put in a shift when called upon.
