Arsenal's Gabriel Jesus Offers up worrying fitness update amid title run-in

Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus is a key player for Mikel Arteta's squad, but as we approach the title run-in, the Brazilian isn't at his best.

As Arsenal enter the latter stages of the Premier League and Champions League, manager Mikel Arteta has just about a full squad to choose from.

At this stage of the season, Arteta would ideally want all players fit and firing...but striker Gabriel Jesus isn't one of them. After coming on as a substitute against Bayern Munich, a game in which he provided the assist for Leandro Trossard's equalizer, the striker stated post-game that his knee is still giving him grief.

"At Arsenal, we train, play, train today, don't train tomorrow, so it's difficult, but I always want to be available for Arsenal and the national team," Jesus said via Football London. "I'm already thinking about next season, I want to complete a full pre-season and it doesn't matter if, at the end of the season, I have to have surgery on my knee and put right what is getting in the way and possibly miss out on the Copa America, but I'd rather be 100 per cent than 80 per cent."

Injuries cost Arsenal the Premier League title last season. William Saliba's back injury in the Europa League saw him miss the last portion of the year as the Gunners were a shell of themselves defensively without the Frenchman.

In Jesus' case, Arsenal has more than enough firepower to cope with the Brazilian, but fighting on two fronts, Arteta ideally would want all the weapons he can get.

Arsenal take on Aston Villa at the Emirates in their next league match as Arteta's side looks to maintain the rage as they hunt for that elusive Premier League trophy.

But it looks like if Arsenal is to win its first title in two decades, they'll have to do it without a fully fit Jesus.