ARSENAL head into the New Year bloodied, bruised – but crucially, still standing.
Gabriel Jesus epitomises this, subbed off in injury time at the Gtech Community Stadium with a ripped shirt, bleeding gum and a fat lip following a New Year’s Day comeback win against Brentford.
It sums up the state of Arsenal right now. The first five months of this campaign have pushed them to their limits, every game leaving its mark on the players and boss Mikel Arteta.
Like a staggering boxer in the sixth round, the Gunners are dazed and weary. Suspensions, injuries, illness and damaging results have taken its toll, each one a painful jab to the stomach.
And yet, at the halfway stage, Arsenal sit second in the Prem, two games away from a Carabao Cup final spot and on course to reach the Champions League knock-out stages.
But the next few bouts over the next month are crucial for Arteta’s men.
They will either be left KO’d on the canvas or eyeing a remarkable Tyson Fury-esque fightback, teeing up a stunning and potentially historic sprint to the finish.
It began at Brentford. Jesus cancelled out Bryan Mbeumo’s early strike before Mikel Merino and Gabriel Martinelli netted three minutes apart in the second half to earn three valuable points.
Speaking with a swollen lip after a first half collision with the Bees’ Mikkel Damsgaard, Brazilian striker Jesus said: “That’s the Premier League. You have to compete. Sometimes it is hard to fight for the ball, sometimes it is needed.
“I always play around tall guys in my position. That’s football. If [his swollen lip] happens and we win the game and I score a goal, I’ll do it every three days.”
Across Arsenal’s next 10 fixtures, they will feature in FOUR competitions. Six of the games are in N5 at the Emirates.
Currently six points off Prem leaders Liverpool – who have a game in hand – there is a trip to Brighton on Saturday.
Then there are home clashes against Tottenham, Aston Villa and Manchester City with a visit to Molineux to face Wolves wedged in between.
There is no room for slip-ups in that run. Should Arne Slot’s Reds increase their already comfortable lead, it could be game over as far as the title is concerned.
It is why there should be an added incentive in the cup competitions.
Beat Newcastle over two legs in their Carabao Cup semi-final – on January 7 and February 5 – and a first major trophy since their FA Cup triumph in Covid-hit 2020 will be up for grabs.
Speaking of the FA Cup, Manchester United are in town in the third round on January 12 before Champions League clashes against Dinamo Zagreb and Girona on January 22 and 29.
Sat in third with four wins from six, a top eight finish in Europe’s new league phase format means they avoid the two-legged play-offs in mid-February – games Arteta could do without.
Arsenal have been battling an injury crisis for what feels like most of the campaign.
Right now, Bukayo Saka is battling to be back before March following hamstring surgery, as is Ben White after his own operation on a troublesome knee.
A sickness bug blighted the squad to face Brentford, with Kai Havertz forced to isolate away from his teammates while several others played through the wellness barrier.
It is why the recent form of Jesus has been so welcome. Having scored just once in 33 appearances, the Brazilian now has six in his last four in all competitions.
The 27-year-old has also kept up an incredible record across his spells at Man City and Arsenal of never losing an English top flight match when scoring, finding the net in 62 outings, winning 57 and drawing five – the longest run in Prem history.
Jesus said: “I don’t look for this [record] personally. I just want to keep winning, scoring and helping the team, the club to be there always fighting for the title.
“I know it is still a long way. We have to look at ourselves and then after we want the top of the league to drop points, but we have to do our jobs.”
