Arsenal forward Gabriel Jesus has reflected on his recent injury spell, expressing his determination to make a stronger impact upon his return.
The Brazil forward ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in the Gunners’ FA Cup exit to Manchester United in January and returned to action for the first time in 332 days against Club Brugge on Wednesday.
The 28-year-old came on in the 62nd minute of the clash for Victor Gyokeres, as the North London side cruised to a comfortable 3-0 win.
Speaking ahead of Arsenal’s clash against Wolves this weekend, the former Manchester City attacker opened up on what recovery felt like.
“It was 11 months, 11 months of doubting yourself. My first thoughts were like, why? You always keep questioning why and the reason why”, the Brazilian admitted.
“It wasn’t an easy season for me last season and then, at the moment I stepped in and started to play, started to score goals and play good, this happened.”
Jesus joined Arsenal in 2022, but has seen his time at the Emirates disrupted by injuries.
The four-time Premier League winner will be eyeing a more prominent role in the Gunners’ title charge this season.
“So every single day for the first two or three weeks, I asked why it happened to me. And then I understood that I needed to be closer to Jesus, to God, to read the Bible. It helped me so much, you know, because it kept me believing that I’m a son of God and then I could do everything if I felt God’s plans”, he continued.
“If I didn’t hear the Bible every single day, I am 100 percent sure I would not have believed I could come back stronger than ever. Now I believe even more, because I’m a son of God.”
Arsenal welcome Wolves to the Emirates on Saturday night, hoping to extend their lead at the top of the EPL table.
Olakitan is a young writer with a strong passion for sports, having gained experience with IndyPress and Nimelssa Press. His enthusiasm for sports inspired him to cover events both within his school and beyond. With a deep understanding of the game and a refined skillset, he brings sports coverage to a broad, global audience in a way that’s engaging and accessible.
