Mikel Arteta backs Gabriel Jesus return to boost Arsenal attack against Palace

Arteta spoke warmly about Jesus ahead of Arsenal's Carabao Cup quarter-final against Crystal Palace today, with the striker finally ready to return after a long injury lay-off.

Jesus, now 28, has not started a game since damaging his knee in January, but has worked his way back to full fitness in time for the busy festive period.

Arteta has said Jesus brings far more than goals to the team and believes his presence lifts those around him.

"You can see now, not only in games but every day in training, how much he wants it," Arteta said. "He's going to deserve a chance very soon.

"That's probably the biggest quality of Gabi, bringing people together, connecting with people and generating a lot of uncertainty in the opponent."

The Arsenal manager pointed to Jesus' intelligent movement and ability to open spaces, qualities he believes can trouble any defence.

"When you watch him, the amount of spaces that he gets involved in, that's his biggest quality," Arteta said. "We need to exploit that."

Jesus joined Arsenal from Manchester City in the summer of 2022 for forty five million pounds. Arteta previously described him as a player who "creates chaos" and later said he had "changed our world" during his early months at the club.

Competition for places is now intense following the summer arrival of Viktor Gyokeres. Kai Havertz and Mikel Merino are also available to lead the line, but Arteta has stressed that Jesus still has an important role.

"When he joined us, he lifted the belief, the spirit and the energy of the club and the team," Arteta said. "He gave something very different to what we already had.

"He had some very bad injuries that didn't allow him to have the consistency we need from a very important player. But he's back. His fighting spirit is unbelievable and the team has got that now. We need to use it."

Arteta also revealed how Jesus' attitude during his recovery impressed everyone at the club.

"I was watching him when he was already back on the pitch and how much he wanted it," Arteta said. “He wrote a beautiful letter explaining what football means to him and how it affects his life. It was something beautiful.”