Alan Shearer has challenged Gabriel Jesus to build upon his recent goalscoring form to help Arsenal in the wake of Bukayo Saka’s concerning injury. Saka has been the driving attacking force in Mikel Arteta’s side this season, notching up five goals and 10 assists in the Premier League already.
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But the Gunners were dealt a huge blow when the forward was withdrawn after 24 minutes having picked up a hamstring injury in the early stages of their resounding 5-1 win over Crystal Palace. Saka injured the same hamstring on international duty earlier in the season and Arteta revealed after the game that he was ‘worried’ by the Englishman’s latest knock.
![[Manchester City FC v Arsenal FC - Premier League]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/GettyImages-2173815869.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
Should Arsenal be without their talismanic forward for the rest of the busy Christmas schedule, Arteta will look to the rest of his squad to pick up the goalscoring burden. And Shearer has called on Jesus to rise to the occasion given his recent goalscoring exploits.
The Brazillian has endured a quiet start to the season but now has five goals in two games after a hat-trick in midweek and a brace in the league on Saturday. ‘It will be a big loss for Arsenal,’ Shearer said of Saka’s injury on Match of the Day.
‘[They will miss] not only Saka’s goals but his assists which is why I think it is important for Jesus to step up and try to replace him.’. Asked about Jesus’ resurgence in front of goal, the former Newcastle and England striker added: ‘He was having such a tough time in front of goal, but I think Mikel Arteta deserves a lot of credit because of what happened in midweek, he gets his goals and you can see the belief he would’ve had in training.
