Back from the 332-day saga: Jesus Reclaims his Prime in Arsenal’s Champions League Triumph

Return from a Long Battle

Brazilian star Gabriel Jesus opened up about the emotional and physical toll of the 332 days he spent sidelined by a serious knee injury, before making a strong return as Arsenal beat Club Brugge 3-0 in the Champions League on Wednesday.

Coming on in the 62nd minute, Jesus showed flashes of his best form, forcing a shot onto the bar and touching the ball more than the starting striker Victor.

The 28-year-old did not hide the mental pain he endured since his fall in the FA Cup against Manchester United, which torn his ACL and required surgery.

In poignant remarks carried by the Daily Mail, Jesus said: "My first thoughts were: why me? I kept asking why this happened. My season wasn't easy, and then the injury struck while I was starting to score and perform well."

He added: "Every day in the first two or three weeks, I asked: why is this happening to me now? But then I realized I had to draw closer to God."

Back with Confidence

He continued: "I stayed 11 months convinced I would return stronger, and the way I moved on the pitch was proof that God always protects me."

Jesus had undergone knee surgery again in December 2022, keeping him from Brazil’s World Cup squad in Qatar 2022.

Despite recurring injuries, the 28-year-old insists the best is yet to come: "The best hasn't arrived yet. I created chances and had three shots on goal. I needed to score, but after 11 months... simply returning with this strength makes me happy."

And now for a touch of light relief: timing is everything—his knee took an 11-month sabbatical and still came back with sniper-level focus. Patience, they say, is a goalkeeper too; apparently, Jesus has learned to park the ball in the net when it counts.