Arsenal moved three points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool as Gabriel Jesus inspired them to a 5-1 London derby thrashing of Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.
After his hat-trick sunk the Eagles in the Carabao Cup quarter-final in midweek, Jesus made it five goals in four days against Palace as his first-half brace put the Gunners 2-1 up inside the first 14 minutes.
The Brazilian striker struck home Gabriel’s knockdown from Bukayo Saka’s cross before curling home from a corner – Arsenal’s 24th goal from a corner since the start of last season.
In between those two Jesus strikes, Ismaila Sarr curled Palace level. The winger is in a purple patch of his own, with four goals in his last seven Premier League games.
Palace were presented with a great chance to equalise when Jean-Philippe Mateta was played through after the hosts pressed William Saliba into a mistake, but Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya was equal to the close-range effort.
It became more uncomfortable for Arsenal when Saka limped off injured with an apparent hamstring injury.
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Saliba error leads to huge Mateta chance!
But Arsenal got breathing space to settle them down. Moments after Gabriel struck the bar from another dangerous corner, Jesus headed a cross from the right onto the post, with Kai Havertz staying onside to tap into an empty net.
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Kai Havertz extends Arsenal’s lead at Selhurst Park
Palace came out for the second half in a buoyant mood but were met by the gloves of Raya, who saved well from Sarr twice and Mateta when the hosts looked all but sure to pull one back.
Again, Arsenal made Palace pay as they found a fourth on the hour mark. Jesus’ close-range strike was denied by the feet of Dean Henderson inside the penalty area but the rebound fell to substitute Declan Rice, whose strike was diverted in by Gabriel Martinelli after keeping himself onside.
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Gabriel Martinelli adds a fourth for the Gunners
Rice then transformed from provider to goalscorer as he curled home from inside the box with five minutes to go to turn the London derby into a rout.
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Declan Rice extends Arsenal lead at Palace.
The result moves Arsenal within three points of leaders Liverpool, who do have two games in hand. The first of those is on Super Sunday – a visit to Tottenham, live on Sky Sports with kick-off at 4.30pm.
Sunday 22nd December 4:00pm
Kick off 4:30pm
Palace, meanwhile, remain four points above the relegation zone but could be overtaken by Leicester and Everton on Sunday.
WATCH: All of Jesus’ FIVE goals vs Palace this week!
Two on Saturday…
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Gabriel Jesus gives Arsenal the lead at Crystal Palace
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Gabriel Jesus puts Arsenal ahead once again!
And three the previous Wednesday! Palace must be happy to see the back of Jesus…
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Highlights from the Carabao Cup quarter-final between Arsenal and Crystal Palace
Crunch time for Arsenal – will Liverpool and Chelsea drop points?
Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher at Selhurst Park:
“It feels like a really big win for Arsenal. On the back of what has happened in the last couple of games, they have had a favourable run of fixtures so couldn’t afford to drop more points.
“They really need to get their season going in terms of stringing some results together and building belief that they can go and win this title.
“Mikel Arteta’s five-year anniversary that we are at now, we are starting to reach a real crunch time, they’ve got to start delivering the biggest trophies.
“They will be there or there about come the end of the season with the Premier League. If they don’t win it will feel like disappointment.
“Arteta’s done a great job but now is the time to start winning trophies. They’ve been a brilliant team but there’s been lots of brilliant teams in the Premier League era who we remember but they never won a trophy, like Leeds, Newcastle and Tottenham. This team doesn’t want to be remembered like that.
“It felt like a big weekend coming into it. I don’t class Man City now as being in the title race. But the four teams being away from home – you’d expect someone to drop something. I’d be very surprised if all three teams [Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea] come away with maximum points this weekend.”
More to follow…
