Why isn’t Gabriel Jesus playing for Arsenal against Liverpool in the FA Cup?

Gabriel Jesus will not play for Arsenal against Liverpool in the FA Cup after the attacker sustained a minor injury ahead of the game.

The Athletic reported before kick-off that the forward “suffered a knock ahead of the game” and that the problem is thought to be “minor”.

Jesus missed the start of the season as he underwent knee surgery in the previous campaign. Since his return, he has made 21 appearances for the London club.

Jesus joins Thomas Partey, Fabio Vieira, and Jurrien Timber who all remain sidelined, as well as Oleksandr Zinchenko, who did not make the match day squad.

Liverpool join Arsenal with ‘No More Red’ kit change

Both teams will be wearing special shirts in support of a community initiative led by the home side. “I think is a great initiative from the club... It’s a campaign that started three years ago and has helped a lot of people already and brought a lot of attention, so if we can make the streets safer around our city, especially for people with kids, we will sleep better.”, said Arteta on the campaign.

On facing Liverpool, Arteta said that Arsenal “played two weeks ago and it was an incredible match and I’m sure it will be a really good match again... We don’t have a choice [on the opposition]. If you ask both teams, probably in the draw we were expecting something different, but we have this incredible clash in this round and we have to go for it.”

When will Jesus be back fit for Arsenal?

Arsenal’s next game is against Crystal Palace on January 20, before they travel to Nottingham Forest 10 days later. It is not known if Jesus will be back in time for these fixtures.