Arteta rejects Gabriel Jesus’ departure and reinforces his stay at Arsenal for the duel with Wolves

Mikel Arteta, coach of Arsenal, ruled out any possibility of Gabriel Jesus leaving in January during a press conference this Friday, December 12, 2025, at Londres. The statement came on the eve of the clash against Wolverhampton Wanderers for Premier League, scheduled for Saturday, December 13, at 3pm local time (11am on Brasília), at Emirates Stadium. The 28-year-old Brazilian returned to the pitch on Wednesday, December 10, entering the second half of the 3-0 victory over Club Brugge, by Liga of Campeões of Uefa.

Arteta highlighted Jesus’s dedication to recovering from knee surgery, which ruled him out for 11 months from January 2025. The coach emphasized that the striker has valuable contributions to offer the team, especially with the squad facing injuries elsewhere. The stay aims to maintain the competitiveness of Arsenal, leader of Premier League with 32 points, despite a recent 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa.

Palmeiras’s interest in repatriating Jesus, mentioned by the player in an interview with Placar in October, does not change current plans. Arteta stated that the focus now is to integrate the Brazilian into the group, where he competes for a place with Viktor Gyökeres, signed for 73 million euros (around R$462.9 million), Kai Havertz and even midfielder Mikel Merino, improvised as a center forward.

• Arsenal have won eight consecutive games against Wolves in all competitions.
• Jesus registered an assist in his entry against Brugge, showing immediate pace.
• Wolves has just two points this season, with eight straight defeats.

Return of Jesus marks a turning point in the Gunners attack

Gabriel Jesus entered the field in the 62nd minute against Club Brugge and showed immediate energy. Sua assistance for the third goal reinforced the coach’s confidence in his recovery.

The period of inactivity included mental challenges, as reported by the player himself, who described the process as lonely. Agora, with the contract until June 2027, Jesus prioritizes minutes to regain space.

Fierce competition for the center forward position

Viktor Gyökeres, recently signed, recovered from injury and scored two goals in the last match. Kai Havertz, close to returning to full fitness after a knee problem, adds versatility to the sector.

Mikel Merino has been surprising as a central option, with two goals and an assist in recent games. Essa depth drives Arsenal, who scored 28 goals in 15 rounds of Premier League.

Arteta manages the rotation to avoid overload, especially with nine games until the end of December. The strategy aims to balance the search for the title and the direct classification for the Champions League round of 16.

Injury updates worry squad

Declan Rice underwent evaluation after muscle discomfort in the match against Villa. Jurriën Timber and William Saliba, starting defenders, face doubts for the weekend due to light knocks.

Leandro Trossard, scorer of the goal against Villa, feels his ankle and can be spared. Arteta expects answers in Friday’s training, prioritizing defensive solidity, with only nine goals conceded in the league.

The technician errs on the side of caution with gradual returns, as seen with Jesus. Essa approach kept Arsenal with eight clean sheets, the best record in the competition.

Wolves seek reaction amid crisis at the bottom

Wolverhampton Wanderers occupies last place with two points from 15 games. The team drew twice and lost 13, including eight consecutive defeats, their worst run in 40 years.

Against Manchester United on Monday, December 8, the score of 1 to 4 exposed weaknesses, with 27 shots conceded. Coach Rob Edwards demands more defensive compaction to avoid relegation, with a 13-point disadvantage to salvation.

Players like David Möller Wolfe, with two assists, lead the meager eight-goal attack. The focus is to break the winless streak, which lasts 19 games in Premier League.

• Wolves conceded 33 goals, the worst goal tally in the league.
• Arsenal have won the last four home games against their opponents.
• Possession forecast: Gunners with 58% on average.

Preparation of Arsenal to maintain leadership

The confrontation serves as a test for Arteta’s rotation, with Manchester City two points behind in the table. Os Gunners are looking for their ninth home victory in the league, where they accumulate 53% average possession.

Strategies include exploiting the flanks, where Ben White and Bukayo Saka create chances. Jesus can gain more minutes if the rotation allows, aiming to be called up to the Brazilian team in Copa of Mundo in 2026.

Emirates Stadium expects maximum capacity, with fans pushing for a return to the isolated top. Arteta reinforces the collective mentality to overcome the tight schedule.

Tactical strategies against the bottom of the league

Arteta plans a quick ball release to put high pressure on Wolves, who misses 40% of his passes in the opponent’s field. Os Gunners aim to convert their average of 14.5 shots per game into efficient goals.

Wolves, in turn, bets on counterattacks with Fer Lopez and Ladislav Krejci, but faces low accuracy of 39% in shots. Edwards adjusts the marking to contain Saka, Arsenal’s main creator with ten assists.

This match highlights contrasts: Arsenal with 85% pass accuracy against 72% for the rival. The expectation is for London to dominate, with at least two goals difference.