Our last away game of 2024 was a thumping victory at Selhurst Park – the sixth time in the year we've scored at least five times on the road.
Gabriel Jesus got us going early on, following up Wednesday night’s hat-trick against the same opposition with two more in the opening 20 minutes – either side of Ismaila Sarr’s strike for Crystal Palace.
Kai Havertz then scored from close range, when Jesus’s shot fell to him via the post. Martinelli made it 4-1 after the break, when he turned in Declan Rice’s low shot, and Rice himself rounded off the night with a lovely finish into the corner from the edge of the box.
The result makes it ten games without defeat now, heading into our last match of the year next Friday.
### JESUS PICKS UP WHERE HE LEFT OFF
After his second-half hat-trick against them on Wednesday, Jesus breached the Palace defence again after just six minutes here.
Bukayo Saka, making his 250th Gunners appearance – the third youngest player to the milestone for us – swung in a cross from the right that the home defence just didn’t deal with. Gabriel was in the mix and the ball fell to his compatriot behind him, who fired past Dean Henderson.
But Palace quickly hit back. After we nearly got caught playing out from the back - when David Raya’s pass under pressure was intercepted by Will Hughes who squirted an effort just wide - they levelled.
Sarr found himself with space in the midfield and kept bringing the ball forward before scoring low down to Raya’s left.
The game had a frantic feel to it, and it was little surprise when we re-established our lead on our very next attack.
Gabriel Martinelli won a corner, which again the Palace defence didn’t clear. Jesus was in the right place to pounce on the loose ball and unerringly thump it home.
It was his fifth goal in 50 minutes of action – all against the same keeper.
### SAKA FORCED OFF
It remained an open game. William Saliba was caught in possession just outside the area and Raya had to make himself big to make an excellent stop at point black range from Jean-Philippe Mateta.
It had been a non-stop opening, but there was a break when Saka’s landmark appearance came to a premature end - he was forced off midway through the half to be replaced by Leandro Trossard.
But the chances kept coming. Jesus found himself goalside of the last man, bearing down on goal, but Maxence Lacroix made a fine recovering tackle.
Gabriel then hit the bar with a header before our third goal did arrive. Martinelli – switched to the right wing – beat Tyrick Mitchell on the outside and sent in a cross for Jesus. His header hit the post, and there was Havertz to score from a yard out.
Trossard was the next to run at the retreating home defence, he spread the ball to Odegaard who in turn found Martinelli in a dangerous position, but his low cross was scrambled away.
### RAYA STANDS FIRM
Raya had to be alert in the first minute of the second half, diving to his right to keep out Sarr’s opportunistic header.
He was called into action again to make a double save from Mateta and Sarr as Palace started the second period brightly.
Mikel Arteta’s men - sporting black armbands in memory of George Eastham, our former midfielder who recently passed away - saw out the brief storm though.
### RICE MAKES HIS IMPACT
Rice and Riccardo Calafiori, both back from injury, came on in a double change and we soon had our fourth. A wonderful pass over the top from Gabriel released Trossard. His cross was perfect for Jesus, but he shot straight at Henderson. The ball fell to Rice, he teed up Martinelli who supplied the rest.
It was the Brazilian’s sixth goal against the Eagles, at least twice as many as he’s scored against any other opponent.
Rice then went from provider to goalscorer to net his first of the season late on. He curled a wonderful effort from the edge of the area low inside the far post.
Scoring five goals in six different away games in the same calendar year had never been done before – by any top-flight side ever. It was a great way to round off our away programme for 2024.
The result keeps us in third place and also ensures we remain unbeaten from all ten of our London derbies in 2024.
### WHAT'S NEXT
We have one game left in 2024, at home to Ipswich Town on Friday, December 27 in the Premier League. We’ll then kick off 2025 with another London derby, away to Brentford on New Year’s Day.
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