EPL: Jesus Inspires Arsenal to Dominant 5-0 Win Over Crystal Palace

Gabriel Jesus ended his Premier League goal drought in style, scoring twice as Arsenal routed Crystal Palace 5-0 to keep their title hopes alive.

Arsenal's potent attack was on full display as they dismantled Crystal Palace 5-0 at Selhurst Park, moving to within three points of the Premier League summit. The convincing victory was spearheaded by Gabriel Jesus, who scored twice to take his tally against the Eagles to five goals in just a week, following his hat-trick in the Carabao Cup quarter-final on Wednesday.

However, the win was marred by an injury setback for Arsenal, as Bukayo Saka was forced to limp off in the first half. Despite this, the Gunners' attacking prowess proved too much for Palace, with Jesus scoring twice in the first half, followed by goals from Kai Havertz, Gabriel Martinelli, and Declan Rice after the break.

Arsenal drew first blood in the sixth minute, courtesy of a Jesus strike. Saka's cross was deflected into Jesus' path, and he clinically fired past Dean Henderson at the near post. However, Palace responded swiftly, with Ismaila Sarr curling an exceptional effort into the bottom corner from the edge of the box just five minutes later.

The Gunners regained their lead three minutes after Palace's equalizer. A hazardous corner was not adequately cleared, and Thomas Partey picked out Jesus, who curled a sublime shot into the top corner. This goal marked Jesus' second of the match and set the tone for Arsenal's dominant performance.

Jesus came agonizingly close to securing his second hat-trick in just a week, but his header ricocheted off the post. However, the rebound fell kindly to Havertz, who capitalized on the opportunity to tap in from close range and seal Arsenal's third goal.

The first half was a frenetic affair, with both teams creating scoring opportunities. Palace's Jean-Philippe Mateta saw his close-range effort saved by Raya, while Arsenal's Gabriel headed a Martin Odegaard corner against the crossbar. The chances continued to flow, but neither team could add to their tally before the interval.

Palace emerged with renewed vigor in the second half, but Arsenal's defense held firm. The Gunners then extended their lead when Martinelli cleverly diverted substitute Rice's shot into the net. Rice was not to be denied, however, and he scored a stunning fifth goal for Arsenal, curling an excellent strike past the Palace goalkeeper.

The victory propels Arsenal to within three points of league leaders Liverpool, although the Gunners have played two games more than their rivals.

Mikel Arteta had expressed his hope that Gabriel Jesus' midweek hat-trick would provide the catalyst for the striker to rediscover his Premier League scoring form. Arteta's wish was granted, as Jesus appeared revitalized, scoring his first Premier League goals in nearly 11 months. This season, Jesus has registered seven goals, with five of those coming against Crystal Palace in the past week alone.

Jesus' recent goal glut is a significant turnaround, considering he had scored only five times in his previous 45 matches before his Palace exploits. His resurgence will undoubtedly delight Arteta, who has seen his team criticized for their inability to create chances from open play in recent weeks. However, Arsenal's performances in their last two matches, particularly against Palace, suggest they are returning to their attacking best.

The major concern for Arteta will be the severity of Bukayo Saka's injury, which forced the 23-year-old to limp off the pitch. Saka is a pivotal figure in Arsenal's lineup, having contributed 52 goals and 44 assists since 2019. His absence would be deeply felt, especially if Arsenal are to mount a serious title challenge for the third consecutive season. Notably, Saka's appearance against Palace marked his 250th for Arsenal, making him the youngest Englishman to achieve this milestone for the club.

Crystal Palace had been showing signs of improvement, having lost only one of their previous eight Premier League matches, but they were comprehensively outplayed by Arsenal. The Eagles' recent form had offered encouragement after a difficult start to the season, but this defeat served as a setback.

The Palace squad had been heavily relied upon throughout the week, with the same core group of players featuring in Wednesday's EFL Cup defeat to Arsenal. The Gunners, on the other hand, had the luxury of making eight changes to their lineup. Palace's task was further complicated by the absence of Eberechi Eze, who had sustained an injury in the midweek fixture. As the match wore on, the Eagles' fatigue became increasingly apparent, particularly in the second half.

The defeat leaves Crystal Palace four points clear of the relegation zone, a position they will aim to consolidate in their upcoming fixture against Bournemouth on December 26. The Eagles will be seeking to bounce back from this disappointment and regain their momentum in the league.