Arsenals preparations for the upcoming Premier League season have hit a snag as manager Mikel Arteta confirmed that star striker Gabriel Jesus will miss the start of the campaign due to a minor knee operation.The Brazilian forward, who had previously endured a three-month absence last season owing to a knee injury sustained during the World Cup, will now face a relatively shorter period on the sidelines following this recent operation.Arteta said, “Unfortunately, he had a little procedure this morning. “He had some discomfort in his knee that has been causing some issues and they had to go in and resolve it. It is not something major but he looks to be out for a few weeks I think. It is a big blow because we had him back to his best, especially the way he played against Barcelona [in preseason friendly], and he was in good condition and we lost him.”Arteta on Gabriel Jesus knee injury: “He had a little procedure this morning, hes injuried unfortunately”. 🚨🔴⚪️ #AFC“Hes had some discomfort in his knee that caused him some issues so they had to go in”.“Hes going to be out for a few weeks”. pic.twitter.com/A1eg3klBwG— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 2, 2023The manager revealed that Jesus had been experiencing some discomfort in his knee over the past few weeks, which prompted the decision to undergo the operation.Arteta said, “We had to make a decision and the best one is to protect the player and get him back as quick as possible so we decided to do it. It is something related to the previous injury that he had and the surgery. He had some irritation in the knee and we had to get it resolved.”Gabriel Jesus injury leaves Arsenal short up top Nketiah, Balogun only optionsAs a result, Arteta will need to adjust his lineup strategies for the initial matches of the season. Arsenal will rely on Eddie Nketiah and United States international Folarin Balogun as the two primary strikers, while midfielder Leandro Trossard and newly-signed Kai Havertz can also play as forwards.While US mens national team striker Folarin Balogun is a viable option, he is expected to depart the club before the transfer window closes at the end of the month. Despite Jesus setback, Arteta said, “The plans with Flo [Balogun] dont change at all.”Balogun was unable to participate in the friendly against Monaco due to a thigh issue.On the other hand, Arteta confirmed that Oleksandr Zinchenkos availability is on the horizon after the player had been grappling with a calf issue throughout the preseason. Arteta expressed optimism about his imminent return, stating, “I think hes going to start training with the team and hopefully we will have him back very soon.”Meanwhile, Bukayo Sakas absence from the match against Monaco was attributed to an illness, as he remained an unused substitute during the friendly encounter.
