The cavalry has arrived for Arsenal, as plenty of injury returns have given Mikel Arteta more options to work with for the weeks ahead. It comes after a torrid few months dealing with injury woes, with as many as eight stars out of action at any one given point of the season.
While the Gunners are still missing some key stars, with William Saliba the latest absentee, there are plenty of players who have made their way back to action. Gabriel Martinelli made an immediate return to the Arsenal team in their draw with Chelsea, starting on the left.
There were appearances for Martin Odegaard, Viktor Gyokeres, and Noni Madueke from the bench, adding extra firepower to the ranks. Given the busy fixture schedule ahead, which includes action in the Premier League, Champions League, and Carabao Cup, it comes as quite a boost.
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However, they aren't the only high-profile returns that the Gunners saw over the weekend. There was also a place back in the squad for Gabriel Jesus.
The Brazilian forward has been out of action for over 300 days, with an ACL injury last January leaving him sidelined for a long road to recovery. A recent return to training was followed up by a friendly behind closed doors, allowing Jesus to build up some match sharpness once again.
While he didn't step out onto the pitch in the end, the availability of the 28-year-old is another step in the right direction for him to get playing again. He took to social media shortly after the game to send a three-word message that made his feelings clear over his return to the side.
On his Instagram story, Jesus said: "God is great," in response to a post from Arsenal that welcomed him back into the matchday squad. It's not the first time that the forward has had to walk this brutal path back from a knee injury, having suffered a few setbacks in the past.
The latest return to action now has him in a different position in the pecking order, but one that will come with a change in responsibilities. In front of him is Viktor Gyokeres, who is expected to reclaim the striker role after returning from his own injury over the weekend.
The Swedish international has been the go-to option so far this season, offering a physical presence up front that few others can provide. Kai Havertz's imminent return adds another layer to that, bringing in a profile of forward who is happier to drop deep and combine play.
Jesus is different in that he wants the ball at his feet, taking on the opposition and pushing defenders onto the back foot. While he impressed upon his arrival in doing that, the squad changes mean he may be called upon as more of a squad option late on in games, or in cup competitions.
"Very good," Arteta said when asked how Jesus was looking ahead of the Chelsea game. "He's doing everything with the team at the moment for the last almost two weeks.
"We're going to give him some exposure as well internally with some games, so he gets that fitness. But he looks really good in training, and he's going to be a big addition to the team."
It remains to be seen just how much of an impact he can made before the end of the season, but it could be enough to help get Arsenal over the line at the moments it matters most.
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