Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has delivered an update on the condition of Gabriel Jesus and Emile Smith Rowe as the pair battle their respective injury problems.
Jesus picked up a knee injury while representing Brazil in their World Cup group match with Cameroon, and the 25-year-old was forced to pull out of the tournament as a result.
Jesus immediately flew back to London for further assessment, but it soon became clear that surgery would be needed to correct the problem, and he underwent a successful operation earlier this week.
Arsenal did not put a timeframe on the striker's recovery, but he is feared to be facing at least three months on the sidelines, ruling him out of important Premier League fixtures with Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United and Manchester City.
Meanwhile, Smith Rowe aggravated a long-standing groin problem after Arsenal's 3-1 loss to Man United at Old Trafford in September, and he also had to go under the knife earlier this year.
The 22-year-old is stepping up his recovery and made the trip to Dubai with the squad for a mid-season training camp, although he is not expected to return to first-team action until the New Year.
Arsenal kicked off their Dubai Super Cup campaign with a 3-0 win over Ligue 1 giants Lyon on Thursday, after which Arteta was quizzed on Jesus and Smith Rowe.
The Spaniard cut a positive figure when discussing the latter's recovery, telling a press conference: "Emile has returned to training and he's in that process after we rehab, after a period where he had some real discomfort.
"So we are giving him time. He's getting closer and closer. Hopefully in the next few weeks, we'll be able to see him."
However, Arteta also admitted that he could not predict when Jesus would be fit again, adding: "No. We know that he needed some intervention in the knee. We'll have to take it day by day, week by week & see [where] it takes us."
Arsenal were not expected to be in for a new striker in the January transfer window, but Jesus's lengthy layoff has led to speculation that the Premier League leaders could seek out options in the winter market.
When asked if Jesus's injury would impact their transfer activity, Arteta unsurprisingly remained tight-lipped, adding: "What it affects is who we are as a team because he gives us so much.
"What we can do after that when we know the timescale better and we have when we can have him back we will look at the options and try to make the right decisions."
First-half goals from Gabriel Magalhaes, Eddie Nketiah and Fabio Vieira saw Arsenal claim a 3-0 win over Lyon on Thursday evening, and goalkeeper Karl Hein made four saves in the penalty shootout to help the Gunners claim a bonus point with a 2-1 success.
Arteta's side now have four days to recover before they meet Italian champions AC Milan on Tuesday, and they return to the Emirates to face Juventus in their final mid-season friendly on December 17. body check tags ::
