Gabriel Jesus could start for Arsenal against Crystal Palace in the League Cup quarterfinal, marking his first start in nearly a year after recovering from a knee injury.

Gabriel Jesus is poised to make his first start for Arsenal in nearly a year, with Mikel Arteta hinting that the Brazilian striker could lead the line against Crystal Palace in the League Cup quarterfinal on Tuesday.

Jesus, 28, has been on the road to recovery after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury in his left knee, which kept him sidelined for 11 months. He has made three substitute appearances since returning, and Arteta believes he is ready to start.

The former Manchester City forward scored a hat-trick in Arsenal’s last-eight win over Palace last season and is eager to get back to his best form. Arteta praised Jesus’s fighting spirit and desire to prepare himself for the team.

With Viktor Gyokeres struggling to find the back of the net from open play, Jesus could take his place in the starting lineup. Arsenal faces a busy schedule with six matches in 20 days, and Arteta will look to rotate his squad.

The League Cup quarterfinal against Crystal Palace is a crucial match for Arsenal, who are desperate to end their six-year trophy drought. A win would take them to the semifinals, where they could face Chelsea.

Arteta emphasized Jesus’s importance to the team, saying, “He lifted the belief, the spirit, and the energy of the team, and he gave something very different to what we already had.” The manager is confident that Jesus will make a significant impact.