Gabriel Jesus continued his impressive form with a stellar performance against Crystal Palace, building on his Carabao Cup hat-trick earlier in the week.
Right from the start, Jesus made his mark. In the 6th minute, he put Arsenal ahead by scoring after a deflected cross from Bukayo Saka. His quick goal set the tone for the match.
Palace Equalizes, But Jesus Responds
Although Ismaila Sarr brought Palace level, Jesus wasted no time in regaining the lead for Arsenal. He fired a perfectly placed shot into the top corner, showing his clinical finishing ability.
While he had chances to score a second hat-trick in four days, Jesus’ two goals were still an excellent return. Remarkably, he had only scored five goals in his previous 45 matches for Arsenal.
Jesus Reflects on His Return
After the match, Jesus shared his thoughts: “It is great to be back in the team, playing more. Arsenal is a massive club, and I know the pressure as a number nine here. When I play with a smile on my face, everything is different.”
Former England striker Alan Shearer also praised Jesus’ performance. He said, “Mikel Arteta deserves a lot of credit. He got the goals in midweek, and you can see the belief he would have had in training. It’s no surprise he’s back in the goals. He’s got a spring back in his step.”
Is Jesus Arsenal’s Main Goal Scorer?
With five goals from just 10 attempts this week, Jesus has proven he can be the goal-scorer Arsenal needs. His accuracy and confidence are undeniable.
Jesus Adapts to New Role
Paul Merson, a former Arsenal player, noted that Jesus has adapted his game. “He has changed his game. He’s getting in the box more. He has realized that assists aren’t enough to get him into this Arsenal team.”
Speaking about his newfound hunger to score, Jesus said, “I know I can score. I just have to put myself in a good position to finish the action.” His focus on being in the right positions to score was evident in the match.
Jesus Contributes All Over the Pitch
In addition to scoring, Jesus worked tirelessly across the pitch. He had 12 touches in his own half, won six duels, and covered nearly 10 miles, more than any other Arsenal player. His all-around contribution helped his team in more ways than one.
A Confident and Tireless Jesus
As Arsenal faces a busy schedule, Jesus’ confidence and tireless effort are key. He stated, “I always work hard. When a player is playing constantly, it is different, [in terms of] confidence and physicality.”
With his current form, Jesus is likely to continue delivering for Arsenal. His goalscoring ability and work rate suggest that he will remain a key figure for the team in the coming weeks.