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Gabriel Jesus scored a hat-trick in Arsenal’s 3-2 win over Crystal Palace in midweek
Mikel Arteta faces a major selection headache ahead of Arsenal’s Premier League clash against Crystal Palace this afternoon following the return to form of Gabriel Jesus.
The Brazil international has endured a difficult 12 months during which injuries and a loss of confidence had seen him fall down his manager’s pecking order.
Kai Havertz, originally signed as an attacking midfielder, has been Arteta’s go to man up front but the Germany international, himself, has gone off the boil in recent weeks.
Jesus, meanwhile, gave a timely reminder of his qualities in midweek as his hat-trick helped Arsenal to a 3-2 win over Palace in the Carabao Cup.
The Gunners face the same opposition at Selhurst Park today and it remains to be seen who Arteta picks to lead his forward line, not that Jesus will be making any demands.
‘I have knocked on a manager’s door only one time in my life,’ revealed Jesus. ‘I knocked on Pep Guardiola’s door – not to complain but to ask him what I could improve.
‘I would never go to Mikel’s door and say, ‘I want to play’.
Arsenal v Crystal Palace - Carabao Cup Quarter Final
Gabriel Jesus was mobbed by his Arsenal teammates after he got back on the scoresheet against Crystal Palace
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‘A lot of people don’t watch the game. They just see the stats the day after and see who scored. People say, ‘Gabby played 20 games and scored once’.
‘But they don’t see I am coming on for five or ten minutes.
‘The pressure to score goals will always be there. I am the No 9 for Arsenal.
‘Even if I score ten they will ask for 20 – and if it is 20 they ask for 30. This is the life.’
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Gabriel Jesus had gone a year without a goal at the Emirates Stadium
‘Well he was very happy,’ said Arteta, meanwhile, when asked how Jesus’ teammates had reacted to the 27-year-old rediscovering his potency in front of goal.
‘Everybody in the team was really happy especially because he helped the team to win the game and get through to the semi-finals, which is what we wanted.
‘You can see that immediate reaction of him, a big smile on his face, big energy around him, and that’s what we need to have everybody in the highest level of performance.
‘Gabby certainly had a big one on Wednesday.’
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