January is a time of new beginnings, and that should certainly be the case with Arsenal. Mikel Arteta’s side may top both the Premier League and Champions League tables, but there is an understanding that they are there in spite of a few factors.

Injuries, for one. In their 19 Premier League matchdays so far this season, Arsenal have been without four first-team players due to injury nine times and without five first-team players due to injury on seven occasions. Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz often counted for at least one of these absences throughout 2025, but the 4-1 win over Aston Villa on Matchday 19 was the first time this term that both, finally, were fit enough to make the matchday squad.

Jesus got his crowning moment, scoring a lovely goal just 25 seconds after replacing Viktor Gyokeres, but Havertz’s presence on the bench would have been just as significant to Arteta.

Speaking in December, the Arsenal manager said: “The whole summer I was thinking, ‘If we bring in a No 9, what is going to happen with Gabi (Jesus) and Kai? I have a lot of nines. I like them so much. What are we going to do? How are we going to handle it?’.

“So far, we haven’t had a problem because they’ve been injured. So, live the present, live the moment, and deal with the situation when it comes.”

Havertz was an unused substitute in Arsenal’s win against Aston Villa (Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

Arteta did not have selection headaches up front in 2025, but that ‘situation’ is now here with the New Year. Gyokeres is not yet meeting expectations despite having a free run at the position when fit, Jesus has impressed every time he has taken to the pitch since returning, and Havertz is now even closer to making his comeback.

This weekend’s trip to Bournemouth could signify the first time this dilemma really hits Arteta, but it is a useful problem to have in a month when Arsenal play nine matches across four competitions.

The impressive elements of Jesus’ recent appearances would not have come as a surprise to those who remember what he is like at his best. Arteta spoke about the Brazil forward’s ability to ‘connect with people and generate uncertainty in the opponent’ before his return, and that has been evident in all four of his cameos off the bench as well as in his Carabao Cup quarter-final start against Crystal Palace.

His initial introduction against Club Brugge brought life to Arsenal’s attack, as he managed to fashion chances for himself in a way that Gyokeres has struggled to. Rather than being a man to solely get on the end of an attacking move, Jesus was actively part of them. He did not score against Palace, but the 28-year-old managed more shots in that start (five) than Gyokeres has in all but one of his starts this season (six away to Newcastle United).