Arsenal forward Gabriel Jesus has spoken about the mental struggles he endured during nearly a year of recovery from a serious knee injury. He made his return in a 3-0 Champions League victory over Club Brugge after 332 days out. Jesus believes the experience has made him stronger, drawing strength from his faith.
Gabriel Jesus, the 28-year-old Brazilian striker for Arsenal, has reflected on the challenging 11 months following his rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee earlier this year. The injury struck just as he was regaining form, having scored six goals in seven matches prior to the setback.
His comeback came in Arsenal's 3-0 win against Club Brugge in the Champions League, where he nearly scored but saw his late effort rebound off the crossbar. This marked his first appearance in 332 days, providing a vital lift for manager Mikel Arteta amid injuries and illnesses to eight senior players. The result extended Arsenal's European winning streak to six matches, bolstering their chances for automatic knockout stage qualification.
In discussing the ordeal, Jesus highlighted the psychological toll. “It was 11 months, 11 months of doubting yourself,” he said. “My first thoughts were like, why? You always keep questioning why and the reason why. It wasn’t an easy season for me last season and then, at the moment I stepped in and started to play, started to score goals and play good, this happened. So every single day for the first two or three weeks, I asked why it happened to me. And then I understood that I needed to be closer to Jesus, to God, to read the Bible. It helped me so much, you know, because it kept me believing that I’m a son of God and then I could do everything if I felt God’s plans. If I didn’t hear the Bible every single day, I am 100 percent sure I would not have believed I could come back stronger than ever. Now I believe even more, because I’m a son of God.”
Looking ahead, Jesus is set to play against Wolves at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday, with Arsenal's Premier League lead reduced to two points following Manchester City's recent victory. He emphasized his experience: “I’m not a kid anymore, I’m 28... More than experience, I can bring some difference to the players we have. In my career I had amazing moments, I have won amazing titles... just to come to Arsenal and then help, like everyone else, to make Arsenal fight for the titles again, this makes me feel happy.”
