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Arsenal legend Nigel Winterburn has issued a note of warning to injured Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus, especially after Eddie Nketiah’s recent form.
THE LOWDOWN: STEPPING UP BEYOND EXPECTATIONS
Jesus is still out with a knee injury he sustained during Brazil’s World Cup campaign in Qatar.
The 25-year-old joined the Gunners from Manchester City last summer and has been one of the standout players for Mikel Arteta, playing a strong role in Arsenal’s rise to the top of the Premier League.
After Jesus’ injury, there were fears his absence would affect Arsenal a great deal, with many predicting a major post-World Cup collapse. However, Nketiah has put those fears to bed and has made a mockery of those predictions.
Nketiah’s performances have been key to Arsenal’s post-World Cup form, with the 23-year-old scoring six goals in six games, including a brace in Sunday’s 3-2 victory over Manchester United.
Arsenal legend Winterburn has hailed Nketiah for stepping up and says the pressure is now on Jesus, who is expected to return in ‘weeks’ rather than ‘months’.
THE LATEST: NKETIAH MAKING FIRST-TEAM CLAIM
Speaking to Paddy Power, Winterburn said: “Eddie Nketiah has been brilliant since coming into the team, which will mean that Gabriel Jesus will need to earn his place back when he comes back from injury.
“He’s doing a fantastic job in terms of his energy and his link up play – he’s providing much more than just goals.
“The question was whether Arsenal would go into the transfer market looking for a new striker, as a backup to Nketiah, but this hasn’t been the case.
“I’ve always said that a team could never have too many strikers, as it provides plenty of options for a manager to pick from.
“If the team can provide Eddie with enough chances in the box, he’ll find himself in the right position. He will have learnt a lot from his run in the team last season, with his positional play and getting into the box more, being an extra option.
“We’re unsure when Gabriel Jesus will be returning from injury, so for now, we need to enjoy watching Eddie Nketiah scoring goals and playing well for the team.”
THE VERDICT: RIGHT CLAIM
Gabriel Jesus is currently the club’s starting striker but if Nketiah keeps up his current form, it would be difficult to see the Brazilian walk straight back into the starting XI.
Nketiah is proving a serious case to be a first-team player and Jesus now potentially faces the task of fighting for his spot rather than being guaranteed his usual starting spot.
