Arsenal are handed a MAJOR boost to their title hopes as Gabriel Jesus returns to training

Arsenal have been given a huge boost to their title challenge after Gabriel Jesus return to training ahead of their Europa League clash against Sporting Lisbon. 

Jesus has not played for the Gunners since their 2-0 win over Wolves in November before picking up a knee injury with Brazil during the World Cup group stages that initially was set to rule him out for three months following surgery. 

There were fears that Arsenal’s title charge would falter without Jesus – who joined from Manchester City for £50million last summer – but Mikel Arteta’s men have rallied with Eddie Nketiah deputising well. 

They’ve picked up eight Premier League wins since the competition restarted after the World Cup, with Nketiah scoring four times – while Bukayo Saka has chipped in with six goals in the same period.

But now with the impending return of Jesus to bolster Arsenal’s firepower and resources, the Gunners will be even stronger as they look to hold off Man City and secure their first league title since 2004.

Arsenal were handed a major fitness boost as striker Gabriel Jesus return to team training 

The Brazilian looked fresh and in good spirits as he bids to return from three months out 

Jesus was put through his paces with some running drills and showed off his hold up play

The forward smiles as he practices some stretches alongside his Arsenal team-mates

Jesus looked upbeat in the training session as he was pictured running onto passes and shielding the ball from his team-mates as he worked on his hold-up play. 

He put in a smile as he jogged through cones during one particular training drill and then laughed with other members of the squad as they performed some stretches.

Last week, Arteta confirmed the player was ‘not far’ from a return and hailed the ‘phenomenal’ striker for his impact on the squad.

‘He’s not very close but he’s not far at all,’ Arteta said. ‘He’s feeling better every day and the doctors are confident with the way the injury is evolving. We are in a good place with him, I think.’

‘His mentality is incredible and the team has done a really good job with him to put him in the position he’s in today.

Jesus has not featured since before the World Cup – where picked up a knee injury with Brazil 

Jesus’ return would be a huge boost for Arsenal and their title hopes having lost their main goalscoring threat 

‘We knew the importance of Gabi, what he was bringing to the team and the way he transformed this period and the belief and in the end the level of performance we could reach. 

‘But to be fair the team took a step forward, individual players took more responsibility and they were really keen to maintain that level. 

‘We have done that so far, it’s really pleasing to see players are not looking for an excuse or look aside and expect someone else to do it, but they took initiative and developing those leadership qualities is really important.’ 

Jesus was said to be in contention to travel with the Arsenal squad for their Europa League clash against Lisbon on Thursday, with the Sun claiming he could be named in their travelling party. 

The same report said the Europa League Round of 16 tie would come too soon for Jesus, with the player expected to be eased back and possibly introduced after the international break. 

Jesus has scored five goals in the Premier League since his switch to the Emirates, providing a further five assists.