Alan Shearer names Arsenal star who must 'step up' and replace injured Bukayo Saka

Today at 08:01 AM

Alan Shearer has challenged Gabriel Jesus to build upon his recent goalscoring form to help Arsenal in the wake of Bukayo Saka’s concerning injury.

Saka has been the driving attacking force in Mikel Arteta’s side this season, notching up five goals and 10 assists in the Premier League already.

But the Gunners were dealt a huge blow when the forward was withdrawn after 24 minutes having picked up a hamstring injury in the early stages of their resounding 5-1 win over Crystal Palace.

Saka injured the same hamstring on international duty earlier in the season and Arteta revealed after the game that he was ‘worried’ by the Englishman’s latest knock.

Should Arsenal be without their talismanic forward for the rest of the busy Christmas schedule, Arteta will look to the rest of his squad to pick up the goalscoring burden.

And Shearer has called on Jesus to rise to the occasion given his recent goalscoring exploits.

The Brazillian has endured a quiet start to the season but now has five goals in two games after a hat-trick in midweek and a brace in the league on Saturday.

‘It will be a big loss for Arsenal,’ Shearer said of Saka’s injury on Match of the Day.

‘[They will miss] not only Saka's goals but his assists which is why I think it is important for Jesus to step up and try to replace him.’

Asked about Jesus’ resurgence in front of goal, the former Newcastle and England striker added: ‘He was having such a tough time in front of goal, but I think Mikel Arteta deserves a lot of credit because of what happened in midweek, he gets his goals and you can see the belief he would’ve had in training.

‘He had to start him and it was a wonderful performance and it’s no surprise he was back in the goals.

‘His all-around play I thought was very, very good today also. He was bringing players into the game with little touches, going in behind.

‘You can see he’s got a pace about him again and he feels as if he belongs back in the team.’

Arteta, meanwhile, urged the Brazillian international to kick on from his impressive week in front of goal and become a reliable goalscorer for his side.

'We now have to push him and let him go and be behind him because he's had some difficult moments and, as a striker, it's not easy because you get a lot of the spotlight,’ the Spaniard said at full-time.

'But credit to him and his work ethic. The way he came back in the summer, he was a completely different player and now he's getting the reward. Sometimes it takes time.'

Arsenal host Ipswich Town next up in the league on December 27.

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