Arsenal's Champions League Campaign Receives a Boost with Jesus's Return

Arsenal has added Gabriel Jesus to their Champions League squad ahead of their match against Club Brugge, signaling a potential return to the pitch for the Brazilian striker after a prolonged absence. Jesus, who has been sidelined since January due to a knee injury sustained in an FA Cup match against Manchester United, has been working his way back to full fitness.

The decision to include Jesus in the squad comes at the expense of young midfielder Max Dowman, who has been ruled out due to an ankle injury picked up while playing for Arsenal's Under-21s. Dowman will be added to the UEFA B list in January but will be ineligible for UEFA competitions for 60 days.

"Gabriel Jesus has replaced Max Dowman on our UEFA A list with immediate effect. Therefore, Gabby is eligible to play in our match against Club Brugge in Belgium on Wednesday night," Arsenal announced in a statement.

Jesus's return provides a timely boost for Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, who has been grappling with a series of injuries within the squad. The Gunners have been without key players such as William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhães in defense, forcing Arteta to reshuffle his backline. Midfielder Declan Rice also recently suffered a calf injury, while Leandro Trossard has been dealing with a calf issue as well. Kai Havertz is also recovering from a knee injury.

Saliba has been managing a knock that caused him to miss recent matches, but there is a strong possibility of him returning for the game against Club Brugge. Gabriel Magalhães sustained a thigh injury while on international duty last month and remains unavailable, with a potential return projected for late December. Mosquera's ankle injury is expected to keep him out until early to mid-January 2026. Havertz is not expected back until late December or early January 2026. Trossard is a major doubt for the Club Brugge clash but could return quickly for the next Premier League game.

Arsenal's initial decision to exclude Jesus from the Champions League squad had raised eyebrows, but the club has now taken advantage of a UEFA loophole to include him. The 28-year-old has been gradually regaining his fitness, featuring in behind-closed-doors matches and being named as an unused substitute in recent Premier League games.

"He's doing everything with the team at the moment for the last almost two weeks," Arteta said recently. "We're going to give him some exposure as well internally with some games, so he gets that fitness... he looks really good in training, and he's going to be a big addition to the team".

Arsenal currently sit top of their Champions League group with a perfect record of five wins from five matches. They are also in a tight race for the Premier League title, despite a recent defeat to Aston Villa. Jesus's return provides Arteta with another valuable attacking option as the Gunners navigate a busy December schedule.