Arsenal's Gabriel Jesus (L) celebrates during the match against Crystal Palace in the quarter-finals of the English League Cup at the Emirates stadium, London, December 18, 2024. /CFP
Arsenal's Gabriel Jesus (L) celebrates during the match against Crystal Palace in the quarter-finals of the English League Cup at the Emirates stadium, London, December 18, 2024. /CFP
Arsenal have reached the English League Cup semi-finals thanks to Gabriel Jesus' second-half hat-trick, securing a dramatic 3-2 victory from behind at home against Crystal Palace, amidst wet and windy conditions in London.The visiting Eagles left the Gunners reeling in the fourth minute at the Emirates Stadium, when Jean-Philippe Mateta nudged aside Yakub Kiwior, before latching onto a long ball, and side-footing home. But Arsenal fought back and dominated the second half. Jesus equalised in the 54th minute, when Martin Odegaard sent a through ball into the box for the Brazilian, who chipped it over goalkeeper Dean Henderson. Jesus scored his second goal in the 73rd minute, when Bukayo Saka slipped the ball through for him to hammer it into the net. The 27-year-old completed his hat-trick eight minutes later, after running onto a ball from Odegaard, and firing past Henderson again. Former Gunners striker Eddie Nketiah pulled one back for Crystal Palace late, after leaping high to head the ball past David Raya. 3-2 was how it ended, leaving manager Mikel Arteta full of praise for Jesus.
"I'm so pleased for him. Obviously, it's been a long period for him without goals, and today to score the three goals, the three type of goals that he has scored as well, and many actions that he was involved in. He looked really sharp. I think it's a great thing for him, is a great thing for the team as well, that we can rely on a player of such quality. So yeah, the same with Kieran (Tierney), the same with all the players that haven't started many games, and today they had the chance to do so."