Arsenal 'want Gabriel Jesus to miss Brazil fixtures'

Arsenal are reportedly keen to keep Gabriel Jesus at their training facilities over the upcoming international break.

The 26-year-old has endured a mixed start to the campaign, making seven starts and four substitute outings in all competitions.

A total of four goals and one assist have come from those appearances, but the forward's game time has been restricted due to injury.

Jesus initially had to miss the opening two fixtures of the season due to a knee problem picked up during pre-season, with his first start in the Premier League this campaign not coming until September 24.

While he returned to make four starts in succession in the top flight, Jesus has not been present in the last two squads for league games.

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Jesus sustained a hamstring injury during the Champions League fixture with Sevilla on October 24, and he is a considerable doubt to feature before the latest set of international fixtures.

However, according to the Daily Mail, Brazil are eager to select the versatile attacker in their upcoming squad.

Selecao have endured a mixed start to their qualifying campaign, accumulating seven points from four games to sit five points adrift of leaders Argentina.

Furthermore, star man Neymar has been ruled out in the long term due to the knee injury that he sustained while representing his country in October.

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While Brazil want to include Jesus in the squad, Arsenal allegedly hold a different stance and would prefer for no risks to be taken on their big-money signing from 2022.

The scenario is made more complicated with Brazil facing two of their most difficult fixtures on their schedule, with an away match in Colombia before playing host to world champions Argentina.

So far, Jesus has played some part in each of Brazil's opening World Cup qualifiers, playing the full 90 minutes in the latest game versus Uruguay.

He then started against Chelsea and Sevilla within a week of that appearance and the long journey back to London, with his injury occurring during the latter stages of the contest in Spain.