SW: Gab? Gab, come on!
SW: I'll give you this? GJ: Yeah, please.
SW: You go up to the left.
Arsenal x adidas presents
Come Back Stronger The Return of Gabriel Jesus
Episode 3 The Return
SW: We learned a lot from that session.
EG: I've known Gabriel for a long time and I know how he behaves, how he's training,
how he's playing - I know a lot about him.
GJ: I'm really happy to be here. EG: Yeah? GJ: Yeah.
EG: I knew as soon as he got into the building here, people would love him because he's so humble.
He's a nice guy, likes working hard, and he also likes to be with people and be nice around the environment.
But also in training, he really is the guy who likes to work really hard so as soon as we have someone like him in the squad,
of course you raise the level of everyone so everyone wants to work hard.
Everybody wants his energy and then everyone will go up a different level as well.
Losing Gabriel in that period when everybody was enjoying themselves, we were having great results,
being together and then when we miss one piece, of course, it's painful.
Of course we're sad because the way the team was playing as well was amazing.
Since he realised he needed to do the operation, he had to go through that process in terms
of treatment etc, he put something in his mind to say "Okay, let's go for it but you have got to
come back better and stronger so to do that I have to dedicate my time, I have to recover,
I have to rest, I have to eat well, I have to do a lot of stuff to come back stronger."
And every single day you have to be very strong mentally as he is, which is fantastic for everyone.
R: Hi Mikel. I know you don't want to put a time frame on Gabriel Jesus' return but do you expect him back before the international break?
MA: So you want me to give you a time then?
We don't know yet, I'm saying we're not far away but obviously he needs to do much more with the team,
so let's see how the next week or 10 days develop, and then we'll have a much better picture.
NB: Welcome along then to the Breakdown LIVE here at the Emirates Stadium for another test.
Slightly different this time, AFC Bournemouth the visitors, here.
R: Emirates Stadium, would you please welcome AFC Bournemouth and The Arsenal.
C: It's Bournemouth that get this match underway.
Immediately on the foot as well, can they get off to a bright start? Ball's come in and it's a goal!
That goal came really quickly from Philip Billing. Arsenal switched off from the start - what a shock and Bournemouth are leading.
Now this is where Bournemouth will try and break. Solanke's done well...
Is Billing offside? No, the flag has stayed down... Pulls it in... They're queuing up to score! What a save by Ramsdale!
Corner comes in - it's a goal. Two-nil, headed in by Senesi.
Neto gets his hand to it... Smith Rowe wins it back... Must be and is!
And Arsenal are back in the game and it's Thomas Partey.
Partey... Nice bit of skill, he's done well... Reiss Nelson pulls it across!
Chance! White! Is it over the line? It is! Ben White has scored!
Nelson, might have to hit it now...
Reiss Nelson has won it for Arsenal! And the place is going wild!
Arsenal have done it!
GJ: I was at the Bournemouth game. To be 2-0 down and then come back to win the game is massive.
That's what winners do, you know?
So I hope we don't put ourselves in trouble like this anymore, you know, but it can happen.
P: Right, none of you can tackle Gabby Jesus there. Only Sam on Jesus.
GJ: Thank you.
You know we are humans. Sometimes they are prepared to do something to surprise you like they did.
The challenge is how you come back and win games, and that was what we did.
To be with the players is different; different rhythm, different contact.
It's so nice and so good - I'm feeling at a hundred per cent now.
P: 85 per cent. Open the legs then, open the legs!
GJ: If I'm allowed to be on the bench , I'm allowed to play.
It doesn't make sense if I'm on the bench and not able to play at hundred per cent.
I prefer to stay at home or go to a stadium to watch it.
But if I'm allowed to be on the bench or to play, I will play fully.
If I can play 90 [minutes], if I can play 45, if I can play five I will play like it's the last five minutes in my life.
So I don't care if I have to fight, I don't care. If they allow me to go to the game, I'll try my best and give a hundred per cent.
JR: Gabby has been fantastic. He always pushes the boundaries. You give him a goal and he wants to beat it,
and I think that's a great mindset. We want someone to come out of this rehab as a better athlete and he certainly has done that.
Gabby, as I said, I think he's just a consummate professional, just as a human being generally. He's got a heart of gold.
His application, his effort - every single day he turns up with a smile and he's now done all
his on-pitch rehab with us here. He's now training with the team and then as I said the
next logical step to that is then building into games. It's sad to lose him but it's great for him
to go back in and be with the team now because we need him at this such a vital stage of the season.
SW: A real pleasure to work with Gabby - how he'd work when he was stuck in the gym
or when he was in a brace, he's always been willing to roll his sleeves up and work hard
and then also he's a challenge because he just wants to push and push, he wants to come back,
he wants to be back yesterday, wants to be back last week and he'll even test the waters with you
and be like "Oh I'm back tomorrow", and we know he's a few weeks away, he likes to push
and that's been a real good thing to have that with a player.
GO: Players always say when they get an injury "Okay I'll come back better".
This is a genuine example of right from after the first three or four days, right from the start,
this is an example of a player who saw it as an opportunity to get better and I'm pleased
to goodness now we'll see in the next few weeks once he returns to playing regularly,
this player will come back better from the injury than he was before.
SW: I can't wait to see Gabby play again.
He deserves it so much - he'll be great for the rest of the lads, they can't wait to have him back,
he can't wait to be back with them and it's a really exciting time for all of us.
A lot of people here are really looking forward to seeing him build his minutes back up,
and yeah he's going to do good.
EG: It's fantastic to have Gabby back again in the squad
because of course Gabby makes our squad stronger.
It's the most important time of the the season as well so as soon as we have all the players fit, it will be important.
But also to have Gabby in the squad with the team, it makes us stronger.
GO: You can never say "A hundred per cent, he's absolutely ready".
We have a fantastic squad, an amazing group of people to train and prepare with.
What is almost impossible to do is to replicate the demands of a Premier League match.
So as far as every other measurable, objective requirement as well as the subjective,
the psychological and the emotional is absolutely ready.
That final step into actually playing, you have to take a little bit of a leap into the unknown.
GJ: It's so nice to be back on the pitch with the guys.
I'm counting down the days to the first game, the first minutes.
GM: I love to play with him, he's a great player - one of the best strikers in the world.
I'm looking forward to to playing with him [again].
GJ: To be out of what you love to do is so hard, you know? The thing, I love to do in my life,
after of course being with my family, is playing football.
I cannot be scared, you know? That's life - that's the football player life.
So now it's time to try to shine!
C: Arsenal make the short trip down to the banks of the River Thames today
to face a Fulham side harbouring lofty ambitions of their own this season.
Gabriel Jesus returns to Arsenal's matchday squad for the very first time in 120 days
to take his place among the substitutes. What a timely boost that is to Arsenal's squad.
A chance to re-establish that five-point lead at the top of the table,
is at stake for the Gunners this afternoon.
So then Arsenal get us underway.
Trossard with the corner.
And it's Gabriel, the man who scored the late winner in the reverse fixture,
and he's popping up with the opener.
Now Trossard can open up his body and look for the far post where Martinelli is waiting...
for a simple nod in.
Martinelli, Trossard on the overlap again... picking out Martin Odegaard for a third!
And the Arsenal captain couldn't pass on the opportunity,
and Arsenal are running rampant at Craven Cottage.
There is a sight that we all want to see.
Gabriel Jesus, for the first time since November, ready to come on for the Arsenal.
I don't think there's going to be a more popular face inside Craven Cottage,
than that man's, in the number nine shirt for Arsenal.
GJ: I have worked so hard to come back as quickly and as fit as possible.
The hardest time has come and gone, I'm so happy to be back.