Arteta Hints At Jesus Start For Arsenal In League Cup Clash

Mikel Arteta has suggested he is prepared to hand Gabriel Jesus his first start in nearly a year when Arsenal face Crystal Palace in the League Cup quarter-final on Tuesday.

The Premier League leaders host Oliver Glasner’s side at the Emirates, with a strong desire to end the club’s six-year trophy drought.

Jesus previously scored a hat-trick in Arsenal’s last-eight win against Palace last season before they were knocked out by Newcastle in the semi-finals. The Brazil international then spent 11 months on the sidelines after rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.

However, following three substitute appearances, Jesus could be unleashed from the start against Palace, as Arteta is expected to rotate his squad ahead of a demanding schedule of six matches in 20 days. Chelsea await the winners of the tie.

Arteta confirmed that the former Manchester City forward, 28, is ready to start. “You can see now, not only in games but every day in training how much he wants it, so he’s going to deserve a chance soon,” he said.

“It has been a really intense journey. When he joined us, he lifted the belief, the spirit and the energy of the team, and he brought something very different to what we already had, which was very impressive.”

“Then he had some very bad injuries, and that hasn’t allowed him to have the consistency we need from a very important player. He is back, and his fighting spirit, his desire to always prepare.