Mikel Arteta says Gabriel Jesus is ready to make his return for Arsenal against Fulham on Saturday and also revealed he is expecting a busy end to the transfer window for the Gunners.
Jesus missed the start of the season after undergoing knee surgery but Arteta confirmed he is ready to be involved against Fulham.
“Yes, I am really happy, it was a big blow after pre-season,” Arteta said.
“He is looking really sharp and ready to go. He is back. He is ready to go.”
But asked whether Jesus could start the game, Arteta said: “We’ll see.”
The Gunners completed most of their transfer business early on in the window – adding Declan Rice, Kai Havertz and Jurrien Timber while David Raya has also joined the club on an initial loan deal.
Several players could depart Arsenal before the transfer window deadline next week and Arteta is expecting it to be a busy end to the window, with the Spaniard also open to further incomings.
“There are some movements happening,” he said.
“Obviously, the last week is going to be really, really busy, but there’s nothing that we can announce at the moment.
“It’s really important, especially for the players and everybody needs to have clarity in their roles, where they’re playing and obviously their families as well.
“We need clarity in the amount of numbers that we’re going to have, and who can do what, but until the window is shut… It is still a bit strange to be competing already in different competitions and the window is still open, but we have to deal with that. It’s happened for a long time and we are used to it.”
Striker Folarin Balogun and defender Kieran Tierney are two of the players who could depart before the deadline for Monaco and Real Sociedad respectively.
But Arteta insists he wants to keep central defender Gabriel at the club despite the lack of game time he has received so far this season.
“Gabi is a really important player for us and there is nothing going on with that at the moment.”
