Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus sparks injury scare amid Man City and Liverpool title race

Arsenal forward Gabriel Jesus admits he might have to sit out Copa America this summer if he needs to undergo any surgery to correct long-standing injury problems. The 27-year-old Brazil international has been hampered by knee and hamstring injuries this season - restricting him to just 15 starts in the Premier League.

Speaking before the Champions League quarter-final showdown with Bayern Munich, which finished 2-2 with a second leg to play, Jesus lifted the lid on his fitness concerns and said he can't remember when he was last able to play a game without feeling pain. That means side-stepping Copa America is one option for the forward.

Brazil will, as always, be one of the favourites for the showcase, due to be staged between June 20 and July 14 in the United States. Jesus, who has scored 19 goals in 64 matches for his country, is desperate to feature, but only if he can get back to 100 per cent fitness after the Premier League run-in.

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Speaking about his ongoing injury concerns, Jesus told TNT Sports (Brasil): "Every time I get called up, I will always be eager to play and help as much as I can. I've had good moments with the national team and I've also learnt a lot as a player.

"It was one of the best moments in my career - playing in the World Cup - but I also sustained that injury and I still have a little problem in my knee. Today I think differently, I think that I have to take more care of myself, because if I'm 100 per cent then I can help but, if not, I'm not able to.

"I always want to be available to help the national team and you always [have] ambition to get that call-up and be there. I'd like to play in another Copa America, I want to win it, but I don't know, we'll see."

Jesus added that surgery is likely to be an option after the Gunners complete their domestic season as Mikel Arteta's side battle Liverpool and Manchester City in the title race, saying: "I don't know if my knee will be 100 per cent and if I'll be able to play. There's two months left [until Copa America] so we'll see what happens.

"At Arsenal, we train, play, train today, don't train tomorrow, so it's difficult, but I always want to be available for Arsenal and the national team. I'm already thinking about next season, I want to complete a full pre-season and it doesn't matter if, at the end of the season, I have to have surgery on my knee and put right what is getting in the way and possibly miss out on the Copa America, but I'd rather be 100 per cent than 80 per cent.

"But that's something for me to worry about in two months time and, obviously, I don't choose if I'm going to play or if I will get a call-up, that's down to the manager. So it will be thought through and discussed and, if there is the opportunity to get a call-up, I will be available and willing to help if I'm feeling 100 per cent."