Gabriel Jesus was the scourge of Crystal Palace for the second time in 4 days as his early double paved the best way for a commanding Arsenal win at Selhurst Park.
Jesus netted a hat-trick when the perimeters met in midweek, Arsenal successful that EFL Cup quarter-final 3-2 on the Emirates, and he scored twice contained in the opening 14 minutes right here because the Gunners closed inside three factors of leaders Liverpool, albeit the Merseysiders do have two video games in hand.
Ismaila Sarr cancelled out Jesus’ opener however the former Manchester Metropolis man swiftly scored once more and additional targets from Kai Havertz, Gabriel Martinelli and Declan Rice secured an emphatic victory.
Arsenal file their greatest win of the season! 👊🔴#CRYARS | #FestiveFixtures pic.twitter.com/b2KrMokxJg
— Premier League (@premierleague) December 21, 2024
The one adverse on an evening filled with positives for Mikel Arteta was a first-half harm to Bukayo Saka that would prohibit his availability over the festive interval.
Jesus had not scored a league purpose since January however, little doubt filled with confidence following his exploits on Wednesday evening, he opened his account after six minutes.
Saka’s cross from the appropriate was not cleared and it fell to Jesus on the far put up and he reacted effectively to fireplace right-footed beneath goalkeeper Dean Henderson.
Palace levelled after 11 minutes with a stunning sweeping transfer from again to entrance.
Tyrick Mitchell led the cost, slipping the ball into Sarr and he capitalised on slack defending from William Saliba to run unopposed into the field and curl a superb shot past the left-hand of David Raya.
Palace have been stage for simply three minutes, although, as Arsenal scored once more from a nook.
A left-wing supply was not cleared and, after Thomas Partey confirmed loads of composure to being the ball down and pick Jesus lurking simply inside the realm, the Brazil worldwide coolly slotted into the highest right-hand nook.
Gabriel Jesus LOVES scoring in opposition to Crystal Palace 🤯
5 targets in every week in opposition to The Eagles 💥 pic.twitter.com/Y7mDDmj7nG
— Sky Sports activities Premier League (@SkySportsPL) December 21, 2024
The sport confirmed no signal of slowing down and Palace ought to have equalised once more after 20 minutes after extra sloppy play from Saliba.
The France worldwide was dispossessed by Sarr and he performed in Jean-Philippe Mateta however Raya was out rapidly to dam the shot.
Saka limped off after 24 minutes in what shall be a fear for Arteta but it surely didn’t disrupt his crew’s attacking movement.
Jesus was denied by an excellent deal with from Maxence Lacroix and from the ensuing nook, Gabriel powered a header in opposition to the bar. The hazard was not but over for the house facet and, having allowed Arsenal to retain possession, Martinelli’s cross from the appropriate was headed onto the left-hand put up by Jesus however Havertz was readily available to bundle the ball over the road.
Gabriel Jesus denied a hat-trick by the put up 👀
Kai Havertz picks up the rebound 🙌 pic.twitter.com/jtpQlpAZOa
— Sky Sports activities Premier League (@SkySportsPL) December 21, 2024
Palace got here out firing after the break and solely two moments of superb goalkeeping from Raya prevented them halving the deficit. First he acquired down effectively to maintain out Sarr’s header and he then produced an excellent double save to disclaim Mateta from long-range and Sarr’s considerably tame follow-up.
Having launched Rice and Riccardo Calafiori from the bench, Arsenal made the factors secure on the hour mark.
Rice’s first contact was to fireplace in a shot on purpose after Jesus had once more been denied a hat-trick by the ft of Henderson and Martinelli was readily available to show it in.
England midfielder Rice acquired his identify on the scoresheet with six minutes to go, bending his shot previous Henderson and into the underside right-hand nook.
It was a press release win from Arsenal, who host struggling Ipswich on Friday.