Mikel Arteta moved in mysterious ways over Gabriel Jesus on Wednesday night as he refused to say if the Brazil striker has travelled for Thursday's Europa League tie with Sporting Lisbon - and then said he will not rush him back.
The Arsenal boss played down reports in the Spanish media linking him with the Real Madrid job next season. But Arteta was less straightforward over his £45million striker who underwent surgery after suffering a knee injury at the World Cup.
Jesus was photographed training on the Emirates pitch on Saturday and again at London Colney on Wednesday morning before the flight to the Portuguese capital. But Arteta - and later a club spokesman - declined to say if his star striker was on the plane and has the chance to make a shock comeback against Sporting.
