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Gabriel Jesus‘ the connection from the first half went off Arsenal to a convincing 5-1 victory Crystal Palace to take them within three points of Liverpool at the top Premier League.
Just three days after his hat-trick took Arsenal to the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup, Jesus was back among the goals after scoring either side of Ismaila Sarr’s strike in a frenetic opening 15 minutes at Selhurst Park.
Kai Havertz scored Arsenal’s third, seven minutes before the break, and Gabriel Martinelli added another one for visitors on the hour. Declan Rice then completed the route six minutes behind schedule.
After back-to-back league draws, Arsenal’s five-star triumph in south London keeps them hot on Liverpool’s heels with the Reds – who have two games in hand on the Gunners – in action at Tottenham on Sunday.
It was the sixth time in 2024 that Arsenal have scored five or more goals away from home – the most by an English top-flight club in a calendar year.
The only sour note for the manager Mikel Arteta arrived after 22 minutes when Bukayo Saka was forced out due to a hamstring injury. Saka headed straight down the tunnel and looks set for a spell from the side.
Jesus scored a hat-trick on 27 minutes in Arsenal’s 3-2 win over Palace at the Emirates on Wednesday. And the in-form Brazilian was on the scoresheet in six minutes.
Tyrick Mitchell failed to deal with Saka’s cross and the ball fell to Jesus who dispatched Dean Henderson the wrong way as he hit home. It was a clinical finish and marked Jesus’ first Premier League goal in 326 days.
The home team was level just five minutes later.
A few moments after David Ray under pressure from a poor pass to Tomas Parti, Sarr knocked down the Spaniard’s goal. William Saliba he bought his opponent too much time and Sarr picked his spot before slotting well past Ray.
Selhurst Park came alive, but four minutes later they fell silent – and it was Jesus again.
Palace failed to deal with Arsenal’s opening corner, allowing Parti to control the ball and then lay it off to an unmarked Jesus who fired into the net – the forward’s seventh goal of the year, with five in the last 72 hours against Palace.
The hosts were quick to respond and Raya was forced to make a superb save to deny Jean-Philippe Mateta.
Arsenal raced down the other end through Saka, but after crossing for Martin Odegaard, the Englishman pulled back, clutching his right hamstring. Saka immediately signaled to the bench and then collapsed onto the turf. He was unable to continue and limped straight down the tunnel.
The Gunners were undeterred by the strike and Gabriel’s header from Odegaard’s corner rattled Henderson’s crossbar.
However, less than a minute later, Havertz gave Arsenal a two-goal lead at the break. Martinelli’s cross was met by Jesus, who came within inches of completing consecutive hat-tricks. His angled header deflected off Henderson’s post and the ball fell to an unmarked Havertz, who couldn’t miss.
Barely a minute had passed into the second half when Raya jumped to his right and stopped Sarro’s diving header. Raya was back in action seven minutes later as he parried Mateta’s long-range shot before getting back to his feet to save Sarro’s follow-up.
But Arsenal scored the next goal. Jesus looked set to convert Leandro Trossard’s cross only for Henderson to deny him, but Rice’s effort was deflected by Martinelli.
And with five minutes remaining, Rice put the finishing touch on a fine night for Arteta – who is celebrating five years in charge of Arsenal – when he beat Henderson with a pinpoint curler from the edge of the box.