2 min read
Football Insider

Gabriel Jesus Makes Triumphant Return from ACL Injury as Arsenal Shine in Champions League Win

Gabriel Jesus expressed his joy after returning from a serious ACL injury during Arsenal's 3-0 victory over Club Brugge. The win marked Arsenal's sixth consecutive Champions League victory, with standout performances from Noni Madueke and Gabriel Martinelli. Jesus' impactful 30-minute appearance highlighted his exceptional movement and playmaking abilities. This blog post delves deeper into the significance of his return.

Gabriel Jesus Makes Triumphant Return from ACL Injury as Arsenal Shine in Champions League Win

Gabriel Jesus is "happy" after making a return from his devastating ACL injury during Arsenal's victory over Club Brugge in Belgium. The Gunners had plenty to celebrate as they registered a sixth consecutive Champions League win, got another clean sheet and put in a performance that instilled hope among the fans.Noni Madueke’s sensational brace and Gabriel Martinelli’s thunderous third inspired Arsenal to a comfortable 3-0 win over Club Brugge. However, it was Jesus' return to action that stole much of the limelight. The Brazilian played only 30 minutes, yet he left a sizeable footprint on the match. His movement, hunger and involvement were impossible to miss. Remarkably, he even registered more touches than Viktor Gyokeres, who had played twice as long. That imbalance was partly owed to tired Brugge legs, but mostly it underlined how naturally Jesus drops deep and links play. He hit the crossbar, wriggled into pockets of space and knitted attacking triangles as if he’d never been away.Speaking to Arsenal club media, he said: "In the first three months, I had a lot of doubts in my head, and then I could be more focused on what God wants from me. Everyone was expecting me to score. and obviously, I wanted to score. I had some opportunities, but even with that, I'm so happy and so pleased, because to come back and then to have some touches that I had tonight, and then the way I could move, the way I could keep the ball."So with 11 months of helping myself and then feeling scared to come back different, maybe with some limitations, just to walk outside and then play with the boys, I'm so pleased. I feel more than ready. So, I'm here to say God saved my life."His return also reunited Arsenal’s most iconic attacking trio of recent years in Jesus, Bukayo Saka and Martinelli."I love him," Martinelli had said before the game. "I always say that he’s one of the best strikers in the world for me, so I’m really happy to have him back - not just on the pitch, but outside the pitch as well. Playing with him is really good. He loves to link up and to move and to rotate."Mikel Arteta believes Jesus’ qualities go far beyond goals."I think he brings something else, and I was really happy to see that," he said. "Gabi has a really special quality, which is that suddenly he connects everybody around him, and that’s something that we as a team need, and it will make us better. So happy for him, I think you can see how much we all love him. It's been a very, very difficult and long journey. For 11 months he's been fighting against another very difficult injury and to see him back with that smile, with that energy and with that quality in his first performance with us is something really impressive and we're all delighted for him."Jesus’ comeback also triggered a necessary administrative change. Arsenal confirmed teenager Max Dowman, who recently suffered an ankle ligament injury, has been removed from their Champions League A-list and replaced by Jesus. It has been deemed a long-term injury, which will take more than 60 days to recover, and hence, Jesus has walked into the squad. A club statement read: "Gabriel Jesus has replaced Max Dowman on our UEFA A list with immediate effect. Therefore, Gabby is eligible to play in our match against Club Brugge in Belgium on Wednesday night. Max, who picked up an ankle injury playing for our under-21s on Saturday, will be added to our UEFA B list in January, but will not be permitted to play in any UEFA competitions for 60 days from today (February 6)."The comfortable victory in Bruges offered the perfect response to the shock Premier League defeat at Aston Villa that had briefly dampened the mood. With momentum in Europe restored, Arsenal now shift their attention back to the domestic campaign. Next up, they face Wolves, who are at the bottom of the table and winless in 15 games. It should be another cakewalk for the Premier League leaders.

1

The Triumphant Return of Gabriel Jesus

Gabriel Jesus made a triumphant return to action after his long battle with a devastating ACL injury. Despite only playing for 30 minutes, his impact on the match was undeniable. His movement, hunger, and ability to link play stood out, with him even registering more touches than players who had been on the field twice as long. Jesus' return not only boosted Arsenal's attacking prowess but also rekindled the iconic attacking trio of Jesus, Bukayo Saka, and Gabriel Martinelli.

2

Reunion of Arsenal's Dynamic Trio

Martinelli expressed his delight at having Jesus back in the team, praising him as one of the best strikers in the world. The synergy between Jesus, Saka, and Martinelli was evident on the pitch, showcasing their chemistry and ability to rotate positions. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta commended Jesus for his unique quality of connecting and elevating the team around him, emphasizing his essential role beyond scoring goals.

3

Administrative Change Sparks by Jesus' Comeback

In a significant administrative change prompted by Jesus' return, teenager Max Dowman was replaced by Jesus on Arsenal's UEFA A-list due to a long-term ankle ligament injury. This adjustment allowed Jesus to feature in the match against Club Brugge and reinvigorated the team with his presence. The move demonstrated Arsenal's commitment to integrating Jesus back into the squad following his recovery.

4

Looking Ahead: Arsenal's Dominance Continues

The comfortable victory over Club Brugge reaffirmed Arsenal's Champions League momentum and served as a response to their recent Premier League defeat. With focus now shifting back to the domestic campaign, Arsenal prepares to face struggling Wolves in a bid to maintain their position as Premier League leaders. The team's strong performance in Europe sets a positive tone for upcoming challenges in the league.

Published on Dec 11, 2025