Arsenal stepped up their preparations ahead of the Premier League resumption with a behind-closed-doors friendly game against Watford on Sunday.
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The Gunners haven’t played a competitive game since their 2-0 win over Wolves on November 12, a win which helped Mikel Arteta’s side move five points clear of Manchester City at the top of the table after 14 games.
Arsenal were without Bukayo Saka, Thomas Partey, Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli but were still able to call upon the club captain Martin Odegaard and Kieran Tierney.
Goals from Eddie Nketiah and Marquinhos saw Arsenal lead 2-1 at the break, but after making 10 changes at the break, a makeshift XI fell in the second period and succumbed to a 4-2 defeat.
Nketiah could be set for a more important role later this month given the injury Jesus sustained during Brazil’s defeat against Cameroon on Friday which will rule him out of the rest of the competition.
Arsenal are back in action against West Ham on Boxing Day and will be without the services of thee £45million summer signing who has had such a huge impact on Arsenal’s forward line and the club as a whole.
According to ESPN, Jesus is expected to remain with the Brazil team to undergo further tests but Arsenal’s newly promoted sporting director Edu is in touch with his compatriot Juninho hoping to negotiate the striker’s early return to north London.
A statement from the Brazilian FA read: ‘As announced by the Brazilian FA after the game against Cameroon, players Alex Telles and Gabriel Jesus underwent tests on Saturday morning.
‘Accompanied by the Brazilian National Team doctor, Rodrigo Lasmar, they underwent an MRI on the right knee that confirmed the injuries and the impossibility of recovery in time to participate in the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
‘The coordinator of the Brazilian National Team, Juninho Paulista, is in contact with the sports directors of Arsenal and Sevilla to define whether Alex Telles and Gabriel Jesus remain with the squad in Doha to continue the treatment or return to their clubs.’
