Forgotten Arsenal star offers promising update on 'worst injury of his life' - after spending almost a year on the sidelines

Gabriel Jesus is eyeing an Arsenal return before the turn of the year after what he describes as 'the worst injury of his life'. 

The Brazilian was in a rich vein of form, arguably his best in an Arsenal shirt, when he went down in a heap against Manchester United in January. 

He'd just scored six goals in seven games and was finally starting to look like the player Mikel Arteta brought to The Emirates from Man City. 

But a scan heartbreakingly revealed that Jesus had ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, an injury which would keep him sidelined for an extended period. 

The 28-year-old later underwent surgery and has spent the last 10 months working towards a return to first-team action, which he is at last nearing. 

He was pictured this week back out on the grass training individually, a milestone indicating that the forward could be back in action before Christmas

And speaking to the club's media team ahead of their clash with Atletico Madrid on Tuesday, Jesus revealed that he's feeling 'great'.

'My knee is responding well,' he said. 'I’m looking forward to being around the team again soon, to come back to do what I love to do.

‘It’s been too long. An injury like this, one that is so long, you split up the recovery periods into smaller timings.

‘So now I’m at the stage where I need to hold myself back a little bit because I’m doing great work outside on the pitches, but it’s tricky because I need to not rush myself too hard over the line.

‘When you can see the end it’s important you don’t push too hard, keep my feet on the floor, and then as soon as the time comes, I will be ready.’

Jesus added that the devastating injury he suffered earlier this year came at a time when he was enjoying life away from the pitch. 

'I've had a few tough moments since I arrived here,' he admitted, 'but also I had great moments as well, where I was playing a lot and in good shape. 

‘Even in games when I wasn’t scoring I was opening space and running in behind. But unfortunately I picked up some injuries, and we cannot control that. 

‘But this one is the biggest injury I’ve had in my life, and it came when I was living my best moment outside the pitch. By that I mean I was preparing well, feeling chilled, eating good, sleeping well, recovering well and then it happens. So that’s why I say that we couldn’t expect it.

‘So now I know that it’s never enough. You know, you need to look after yourself even more. You have to be clever to be able to play all the season. 

‘That’s what I think now, I need to control training, because I’m a player who always goes outside and gives 100 per cent. If you don’t control it properly, it can be a problem.’

Despite his long period on the sidelines, Jesus is also eyeing a return to international duty with next summer's North American World Cup on the horizon. 

If selected, it would be the forward's third World Cup finals after featuring in both 2018 and 2022.

He added: 'Of course, I would love be there but it's not easy. We have great players, an amazing squad, and it's only a short period until the World Cup.

‘There is not a lot of time there, but I trust in myself. As soon as I start playing again I will do my best to get involved.’ 

Jesus is joined by captain Martin Odegaard, Kai Havertz, Noni Madueke and Piero Hincapie on what is a rather extensive Gunners injury list. 

Arsenal have however been in a blistering run of form of late despite such absentees, winning their last six games in all competitions. 

They sit top of the Premier League, four points clear of second-placed Manchester City, ahead of their clash with Crystal Palace on Sunday.