Losing Gabriel Jesus to injury at the World Cup was every Arsenal’s fans’ worst nightmare, and it still came true despite the Brazilian only starting one measly game for his country.
And as Mikel Arteta says, it is nearly impossible to replace him, but he is not too despondent as he knows he has other options already in the side, but you may be surprised by which option he calls the “big one”.
When asked by Arsenal.com about Jesus’ injury, the Boss replied: “It’s a huge blow for us, obviously. He’s such an important player: he’s brought something very different to the team and it’s impossible to replace him. But we have other players, other alternatives and we’ll try to get that sorted. The transfer window is another option.”
“I think [Jesus] is a unique player but Eddie [Nketiah] has incredible qualities as well for the way we want to play. We have other alternatives in that we can play Martinelli up front as well. We are currently a little bit short in terms of upfront positions but getting Emile [Smith Rowe] back is going to be a big one.”
The thing is; we all know how good Smith-Rowe can be, and Arteta has previously admitted that the Hale End star could play as a centre-forward. Arteta revealed earlier this year “I think he can play in four positions.
“He can play as a left-winger, he can play as a left attacking midfielder, right attacking midfielder and he can play as a 9; very, very well I think.”
But the biggest worry we have is that ESR has been plagued by injuries since he was in the academy. Hopefully his big operation this summer has fixed all his problems, but I think it’s a big risk to count on him play regularly until he has had a run of games and proved his fitness.
ESR would certainly be “like a new signing” if he can come straight back into the team, but surely we will still need a couple of new arrivals to cope with our future fixture congestion?
Sam P
————————————-
CALLING ALL ARSENAL FANS! Anyone who would like to contribute an Article or Video opinion piece on JustArsenal, please contact us through this link…
Reiss Nelson’s sad interview before his heart-breaking injury.
Please enjoy, watch and subscribe to JustArsenalVids
Smith Rowe has always looked like he has a goal-scoring touch, I reckon he’d be a good penalty-taker. I noticed that Martinelli got mentioned, but yesterday I read that Arteta won’t change his position, he must be thinking about it as a last resort. He mentions the window too, I look forward to seeing what Arteta has in store, there seems to be a lot on his mind in such a short interview
Smith Rowe up front
Always the Arsenal way. Economy of quality, leading to just “minus one or two” all the time to end regrettably. It’s only Arsenal that doesn’t get the right player(s) when needed. We don’t work with alternatives, except sticking to a particular player that won’t come eventually. Starting all over again means bouncing on same spot. Arsene Wenger’s era witnessed a more enterprising collection of young stars better than what we have now minus just a Defensive Midfielder and one Central Defender to have a complete team. The two were never bought. Wenger operated with make shift Defensive Midfielders and all other excellent departments became dilapidated with more serious teams poking them one after the other.
The not too different journey has started with Arteta all again and until the style changes, another recycling process is loading. It started since last year January. We have an exciting team minus one or two shot to attain the standard. We are the GUNNERS.
We all know that these boys are good. But they don’t have hard work and winning mentaity that Gabriel Jesus has brought to Arsenal. And the kind of work that Martineli is doing at left wing non of them can do it. Please let us manage till January window and get someone who is hard working with scoring skills and winning mentaity to play upfront with Martineli till when Gabriel Jesus will be available. We have other competitions for Nketiah and Smith Row to be regular not premier league at this time, if we want to stay up there. Almighty GOD will keep us there till the end of the season and we will win the league.
In my opinion, Smith-Rowe played decently in the false nine role, when we played against Villareal in Spain. Unfortunately, our defense was awful at that time
Similar to Nketiah, Smith-Rowe can’t do hold-up play frequently. But he linked up well with our midfielders and he worked his socks off to press high up the pitch
Smith-Rowe has already shown that he’s a powerful midfielder with surging runs, good aerial ability and good dribbling skills as Bellingham is. The false nine role will give him more game time and his work ethic will be perfect to lead our front-line
The gaffer loves these mind games, he will never shows his, he will trys to use this to his advantage.
West Ham and David Moyes will have the next six days to figure this out, am not surprised for a minute his answers are so vague.
Maybe he should have mention a next sixteen year old we never hear about before.
There’s 4 fixtures in Jan and 5 fixtures in Feb…what fixture congestion?
MA shipped out players on loan and claimed he was happy with our squad, what’s changed?
We should try and get Isco too,he is a free agent now, he can partner Partey incase Xhaka goes down and deputize for Ødegaard,Isco has a better vision and is experienced
Smith-Rowe isn’t good aerially, isn’t strong enough for holdup play, remember how he was bullied against Newcastle, Smith-rowe would be open to serious injuries as a CF,
Are we going to bottle it again when we have the best chance to challenge for the premier league title. Can we try and get Thuram at least?
So, let’s screw over ESR again.
I think it would be MUCH better if Nellie played in the middle and ESR played left wing.
ESR was scoring his goals when he was out on the left and then moving towards the back post!!!
But. Arteta won’t do that!!!!!
After they fail to get the right players then Edu & Arteta will come out with one or several foolish reasons of why we failed to win the EpL..The chances are glaring now.Go & get Ivan tonney, telemens, & ZAha at least if u can’t get the too expensive mudyrik for now..The team will be much upgraded that even EPL teams will feel intimidated but NO..They rathers stick with a weaker team awaiting the return of players who may not even be at their best when they return..This is the reason I don’t trust the Arteta process cox when it’s time to do the right things he chooses to stick to his self arrogance and fail at the end then blame players or fixtures or whatever reason..If we fail to build on this opportunity soon our best players will go looking for bigger trophies and it’s nobody to blame but the Kronkes,Edu and Arteta..thanks
Chris, What is your problem? Is it Arteta who caused Jesus’ injury? Besides who brought in Jesus? You sound as if Arteta and Edu have been Arsenal’s problem for ages! Why don’t you wait and see how things unfold? Would you have imagined Arteta to say that Nketiah can’t lead the Frontline? I am sure Edu and Arteta have plans to deal with the situation. Give them the benefit of doubt before condemning them.