It seems fitting that Gabriel chose Jesus at this time of year to end his drought. A brilliant hat-trick from the Brazil striker sealed a thrilling second-half comeback for Arsenal to book their place in the semi-finals after Jean-Philippe Mateta fired over. Crystal Palace they lead into the anus.
Oliver Glasner’s well-drilled side looked capable of surprise as Mikel Arteta’s half-time substitutions changed the course of this tie, although it was Jesus – who had found the net once in his past 34 appearances – who helped the manager. At the end they got a scare when Eddie Nketiah pulled one back late on.
Arteta predicted that Arsenal could use this match to help CAPE to win major trophies but the team selection shows where his true loyalties lie. There were eight changes in the immediate future draw against Verton here on Saturday, with Kieran Tierney recalling his first start since the 2023 Community Shield at left-back and Chelsea loanee Raheem Sterling also making a rare appearance.
Such was not the case with Glasner, who appeared incredulous at the suggestion that he would not join the full-strength side in a pre-match TV interview and handed full-time 18-year-old Caleb Kporha in place of the suspended Daniel Muñoz. . while Armory Amazingly, they have won this trophy only twice in their history and not since Steve Morrow’s heroics in 1993, a recent Palace record was lamentable, but the 6,000 supporters at the end of the exit clearly thought they had a chance to reach the semi-finals for the first time since. victory at Old Trafford against Manchester United in 2011.
Their hopes only grew when Jakub Kiwior misjudged a long tackle from Dean Henderson in the first four minutes. Mateta pounced on the mistake, before eluding the Polish defender and calmly slotting his way past David Raya. Arsenal responded with a flurry of attacks and Jefferson Lerma cleared the line from a corner before Leandro Trossard fired in Sterling’s cutback.
But despite dominating possession, Arsenal looked vulnerable at the break and Raya was well saved with his legs by Ismaïla Sarr after a mistake by Jesus. Eberechi Eze also tried his luck with a quick free-kick from the halfway line that nipped the Arsenal goalkeeper close. Henderson was at full stretch to curl over Sterling’s free-kick just after the half-hour mark as Palatine’s defense stood firm under increasing pressure as Kporha settled into his own half after bringing down Trossard’s booking. The home crowd’s frustration grew after the usual second corner was subverted before half-time, with most likely wondering how long Arteta would continue with the second string.
That question was answered later when Willem Saliba and Martin Degaard were both called up from the bench, while Kporha made way for Nathanael Clyne. Suddenly Arsenal’s approach was different, but only Sterling will know how he managed to dig into the woodwork after Henderson’s first-time shot from Tierney’s cross was saved. But their equal was about Jesus, who had not come into this game of foul play because they won in Preston in October, but he took it casually with aplomb, after a shot from Ødegaard casually deflected the ball at the Palace goalkeeper.
Glasner turned to Arsenal old boy Nketiah, whose name was chanted by the home supporters, when he replaced Mateta on the hour mark. Jesus looked to stretch his waist when he turned inside the area and his shot deflected just past the runner. The introduction of Bukayo Saka after Tierney finally got the steam flowing showed that Arsenal really meant business.
Post Newsletter promotion
He confirmed this fact when the England forward slid into Jesus cutting in from the right, although he was looking at the far side. With VAR not being used until the semi-finals, there was no criticism of Palace for making sure of the end.
He is left to round up Jesus and win after another clear exit from Ødegaard, although Nketiah completes the nerve when he heads home Clyne’s cross.