Gabriel Jesus set to return for vital Arsenal fixtures as Mikel Arteta gets wish
The events of the past week have demonstrated that things can change rapidly. Despite Arsenal’s position as joint leaders with a game in hand, their hopes for the title appeared to be dashed after a crushing defeat to Manchester City on Wednesday night.
However, just four days later, they bounced back with a 4-2 victory over Aston Villa and a draw by Manchester City against Nottingham Forest, which restored their two-point lead at the top of the table. With a game in hand against Everton, Arsenal’s prospects are once again looking promising.
Nevertheless, the Gunners will encounter many more ups and downs before the end of the season, as they strive to capture their first Premier League trophy in almost two decades. April may be a crucial month based on the fixture schedule.
Before delving into that particular month, it’s important to mention that Arsenal have an incredibly busy schedule in March, with seven matches scheduled in just 23 days.
However, there is a break for international matches in the final two weeks, which could provide a chance for the Gunners to rest up and be fully prepared for April, provided they can come through March without any major injuries or setbacks.
The month of April kicks off with a home match against Leeds, which may seem like an easy fixture on paper, but Arsenal will need to be cautious not to underestimate their opponents, especially after their recent surprise defeat against Everton.
A week later, they will face Liverpool at Anfield, and although Arsenal may be favored to win based on Liverpool’s current form, it’s worth noting that they haven’t won a match away to Liverpool since 2012.
There is also the possibility of Arsenal playing a Europa League quarter-final first leg during that period. While their focus will primarily be on domestic competitions, the players are eager to win every trophy that they can.
However, this will not be an easy feat, considering that strong teams like Barcelona, Juventus, and Ajax are still in the competition, although their status could change depending on the results of the upcoming knockout round play-offs.
Furthermore, if there is a second leg, it could coincide with a challenging away game against West Ham, which could provide Arteta with an opportunity to scout his summer target, Declan Rice.
If Arsenal play a Europa League quarter-final second leg, they will face Southampton at home on the following Friday. However, if they do not have a Europa League match, then the game against Southampton will take place on the evening of April 21st.
This match against Southampton will mark the beginning of a crucial week for Arsenal’s title aspirations. They will face their main rivals, Manchester City, on Wednesday night in what could be an epic clash at the Etihad Stadium, followed by a home game against Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.
Although it is a relatively short turnaround, Arteta will be pleased that his team has not been scheduled for an early Saturday kick-off after playing on Wednesday. Earlier this month, the Spaniard had called for his team to receive the same treatment as Champions League sides, who are not typically given such quick turnarounds, and it appears that his request has been granted.
“I think that should apply to any competition,” Arteta said, when describing his desire to get rid of such quick turnarounds. “I think that [short gap between matches] is why one of the changes was made towards the Champions League teams. I think following the same principle, talking physiologically, it is very difficult in that period to get the best outcome and reduce the injury risk for players.”
In addition, Arteta could potentially have Gabriel Jesus back in the squad for these crucial matches. According to football.london, the Brazilian is expected to return in March and could be available for the important games in April, provided that his recovery goes smoothly. While Jesus is progressing well in his comeback, the club has not provided an official timeline for his return and remains cautious. Nonetheless, his potential return could be a significant boost for Arsenal in their bid for success.
“Doing really well,” Arteta said when asked how Jesus is doing. “He’s on the pitch, he’s been doing quite a lot of work on the ball already and so far his rehab is going well.”
Gabriel Jesus set to return for vital Arsenal fixtures as Mikel Arteta gets wish
