Arsenal head into 2025 bloodied and bruised but have the chance to invigorate their season this month
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ARSENAL head into the New Year bloodied, bruised – but crucially, still standing. Gabriel Jesus epitomises this, subbed off in injury time at the Gtech Community Stadium with a ripped shirt, bleeding gum and a fat lip following a New Year’s Day comeback win against Brentford.
![[Arsenal's Gabriel Jesus had his shirt ripped in a physical battle at Brentford]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/arsenals-gabriel-jesus-walks-off-960959981.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
It sums up the state of Arsenal right now. The first five months of this campaign have pushed them to their limits, every game leaving its mark on the players and boss Mikel Arteta. Like a staggering boxer in the sixth round, the Gunners are dazed and weary. Suspensions, injuries, illness and damaging results have taken its toll, each one a painful jab to the stomach.
![[Boss Mikel Arteta has the chance to kickstart his side's season this month]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/2025-mikel-arteta-head-coach-960962649.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
And yet, at the halfway stage, Arsenal sit second in the Prem, two games away from a Carabao Cup final spot and on course to reach the Champions League knock-out stages. But the next few bouts over the next month are crucial for Arteta’s men. They will either be left KO’d on the canvas or eyeing a remarkable Tyson Fury-esque fightback, teeing up a stunning and potentially historic sprint to the finish.
It began at Brentford. Jesus cancelled out Bryan Mbeumo’s early strike before Mikel Merino and Gabriel Martinelli netted three minutes apart in the second half to earn three valuable points. Speaking with a swollen lip after a first half collision with the Bees' Mikkel Damsgaard, Brazilian striker Jesus said: “That’s the Premier League. You have to compete. Sometimes it is hard to fight for the ball, sometimes it is needed.
