Mikel Arteta provides Gabriel Jesus injury update and Arsenal transfer plan after Liverpool loss

Mikel Arteta has provided the latest on Gabriel Jesus' fitness after the Brazilian striker missed Arsenal's FA Cup third round clash with Liverpool at Emirates Stadium. Jesus was ruled out for the game with what the club confirmed was a minor knee issue.

Although the Brazilian has not exactly been in red hot form in front of goal recently, his absence was still keenly felt at the Emirates as Arsenal toiled again in front of goal. Kai Havertz, Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka and Reiss Nelson all passed up presentable opportunities before Liverpool punished them with an own goal from Jakub Kiwior and a strike from Luis Diaz with the final kick of the game.

With this profligacy in the final third Arsenal will be hoping to have Jesus back soon. And now Arteta has provided an update on the fitness of the Brazilian international.

«He had some pain in his knee,» the Spaniard said in his post-match press conference. «We have done a scan that shows something. Hopefully it’s not something big. It’s the same knee that he had (an injury on before), so we could not take any risks.»

Arteta then went on to confirm that he is expecting Jesus to travel to Dubai for Arsenal's midseason training camp. The Gunners will be in the Middle East for a few days for some warm weather training before returning for Premier League action against Crystal Palace.

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There are now some suspicions that Jesus' injury could impact Arsenal's January transfer plans. The Gunners had already been linked with a forward prior to the Brazilian's absence. They have struggled all season in front