Gabriel Jesus celebrates after scoring against Crystal Palace
Gabriel Jesus celebrates after scoring against Crystal Palace
Gabriel Jesus destroyed TWO unwanted records as Arsenal smashed Crystal Palace to get their Premier League title challenge back on track.
Jesus was handed just his third Premier League start of the season having scored a hat-trick as Arsenal knocked the Eagles out of the Carabao Cup in midweek. And the 27-year-old found the back of the net once again after just six minutes at Selhurst Park to hand the Gunners an early lead.
That strike was just his first league goal in 24 Premier League matches, a run dating all the way back to January, an astonishing record for the Gunners' No.9. Amazingly, the strike was also Arsenal's first league goal from open play in three games, amid suggestions that their set-piece prowess has been carrying them, and having failed to find the net against Everton in a dour goalless draw last weekend.
Jesus quickly doubled his tally, firing home his second in the 14th minute to restore the Gunners' lead after Ismaila Sarr had netted an equaliser for Palace. Jesus hit the post shortly before half-time, with Kai Havertz pouncing on the rebound to make it 3-1 to Mikel Arteta's men, before Gabriel Martinelli - whose own recent performances have been called into question - grabbed a fourth in the second period.
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Substitute Declan Rice rattled home a brilliant fifth late on as they closed the gap on league leaders Liverpool before their trip to Spurs on Sunday.
"What a result," said Paul Merson, speaking on Sky Sports. "An outstanding result. To go to Crystal Palace, the way they've been playing, and score five goals. A great result."
"That was a big result," admitted Jamie Redknapp. "In this last week they've realised they've got a player still at this club who can do a job and a really good job at that. It's important he scores goals, he's got to stay fit and if they get someone else in January, so be it, but just have him, a player who can start and effect games, or even come off the bench, is so important."
Jesus scored his first Premier League goal of the season against Palace
Jesus' double means he has scored seven goals across all competitions this season, with five of them coming against Palace in the space of four days.
It was not all good news for the Gunners however, with Bukayo Saka making an early exit during the first half.
The England star stayed down near the corner flag after attempting a right-footed cross into the penalty area. Arsenal medical staff ran on to offer treatment, but within moments the signal had been made that he couldn't carry on, and he immediately headed down the tunnel, holding his right hamstring.
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