Arteta confident Gabriel Jesus can lead Arsenal attack, ruling out sale and praising the striker’s return after 11 months out through injury

London, England — Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has expressed full confidence in Gabriel Jesus, stating the Brazil international has the qualities to compete for the club’s first-choice striker role following his return from an 11-month injury layoff.

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The 28-year-old forward played his first minutes for Arsenal on Wednesday as a substitute in the Gunners’ 3-0 Champions League victory over Club Brugge, marking a key step in his recovery from a knee injury sustained in January.

“Gabriel is certainly a player that has to be pushing and aiming for that,” Arteta said at his pre-match press conference ahead of Saturday’s Premier League clash with Wolves.

“A player of his quality, who has given us so much, and he comes with the energy that he showed the other day, has a lot to offer to the team.”

Arteta dismissed suggestions that the former Manchester City star could be sold despite Arsenal’s abundance of attacking options, which includes Viktor Gyokeres, Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, Noni Madueke, and Leandro Trossard.

The manager acknowledged that struggling forward Gyokeres, who has scored once in the league since mid-September, will take time to adapt to the team’s style, saying, “We have to put the player in the best possible condition to explode and fulfil his potential… it took him a while at the beginning because it’s a different league, different demands, he had no pre-season, and now he’s starting to get some momentum. The goals will come.”

Arsenal currently sit two points clear of Manchester City at the top of the Premier League as they prepare to host Wolves, who have lost their last eight league games.

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Arteta was non-committal on the potential returns of central defender William Saliba and midfielder Declan Rice, stating both would be assessed before the match. The fitness of Jurrien Timber and Leandro Trossard also remains uncertain.