Arsenal lose striker Gabriel Jesus for "several weeks" with knee injury

LONDON, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) 

Arsenal's Brazilian international striker, Gabriel Jesus will miss the start of the new Premier League season and be sidelined for "several weeks" after a knee operation, coach Mikel Arteta has confirmed.

Arteta explained the operation was linked to the problem which saw the striker a chunk of last season after suffering the injury while with Brazil at the World Cup finals.

 "He had some irritation in the knee and we had to get it resolved," Arteta commented after Arsenal's pre-season game against Monaco on Wednesday night.

"Unfortunately, he had a little procedure this morning. He's had some discomfort in his knee that caused him some issues so they had to go in. It's not something major but he's going to be out for a few weeks."

"It's a big blow because we had him back to his best, especially with the way he played against Barcelona (Arsenal won 5-3 in the USA) and he was in good condition but unfortunately we lost him."

Despite only playing 26 league games last season, Gabriel Jesus scored 11 goals as Arsenal challenged Manchester City for the title until the very end of the campaign.

"We had to make a decision and the best one is to protect the player and get him back as quick as possible. We decided to do it," explained Arteta.

Arsenal will play Manchester City in the Community Shield this weekend and then start their league campaign at home to Nottingham Forest on August 12.