Gabriel Jesus had scored two Arsenal goals in the whole of 2024 before his hat-trick against Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday but made it five in four days with two in a 5-1 Premier League victory at Selhurst Park.
Ismaila Sarr had equalised for Palace in a frantic opening — the goals coming after 6, 11 and 14 minutes — before Kai Havertz added a third Arsenal goal after a Jesus header hit the post on 38 minutes.
Jesus should have had his third when he was denied from seven yards just before the hour but a smart Arsenal move was eventually finished off by Gabriel Martinelli before Declan Rice, brought on to increase control, curled in a fifth from the corner of the box.
An apparent hamstring injury for Bukayo Saka in the first half when running at pace was the main worry for Arsenal from the game.
Here The Athletic’s Jordan Campbell breaks down the key talking points.
Is Jesus the answer?
Even he looked like he could not quite believe it. After a run of just one goal — against Championship side Preston in the Carabao Cup — in 33 appearances, Gabriel Jesus had just scored his fifth goal in two games.
The way he placed his first-time shot into the top corner showed what a difference confidence can make. He has been guilty of overthinking in front of goal, but this was a finish of pure mental clarity.
Both his goals were instinctive finishes from loose balls dropping to him and that is what Arsenal have been missing for the past year: the Gabriel Jesus who plays like the kid in the park, carefree and expressive.
He may have once naively said that goalscoring isn’t his main forte, but the lack of goals looked like it had been weighing on him before this week. After scoring against Nottingham Forest on January 30, Jesus had not scored in the Premier League since.
He had been limited to just six starts in that time as Kai Havertz took over as centre forward, but it was still an almighty drought for a player of his calibre.
The reason he had dropped out of the team in the first place was that he had faded and his body was failing him.
The Brazilian has had six different injuries since joining Arsenal from Manchester City in the summer of 2022. Since his blistering first six months, he had not recaptured the form which turned Arsenal into title contenders.
Jesus slots in Arsenal’s first goal (Photo: Julian Finney/Getty Images)
The fear was that his knee issues may have taken more of a toll than imagined but the midweek hat-trick against Palace in the Carabao Cup quarter-final could be transformational for Jesus, and Arsenal, if it is the catalyst for him discovering his old self.
Jesus has always been a patchy goalscorer but Arsenal could do with him going on a prolific run, especially with Saka out.
How Arteta handles Jesus returning to form is the big question now. Havertz’s levels had dropped off in recent weeks and he was moved back to the left of midfield to cater for Jesus against Palace.
Having both players in the box helped Arsenal cause chaos throughout the match and it was the most dangerous they have looked in some time with an extra attacker in midfield.
Jesus could have another two goals had he carried on his clinical streak but Arteta will take confidence from the fact he can recognise his striker again. How he fits both Havertz and Jesus into the team is his next dilemma.
How worrying is Saka’s injury?
It is a sight that we have become used to seeing: Bukayo Saka on the ground needing treatment.
The difference this time was that he had not been clattered, pulled or scythed down before springing to his feet again.
There was no one near him when he went down clutching the bottom of his hamstring in the 24th minute. Leandro Trossard was immediately brought on to replace him.
Saka looks in pain after going down holding his right hamstring (Photo: Alex Pantling/Getty Images)
Saka’s powers of recovery have conditioned us to believe that he is immune to serious muscle injuries. To play over 250 senior games for the club by the age of 23 without having a prolonged lay-off is an incredible record but there was bound to come a point when his body broke down to some extent.
It remains to be seen how serious it is but Saka was sprinting at close to full pace when he appears to have felt the problem in his hamstring. The hopeful part is that he was able to slow and dig out a pass before he called for treatment but Ipswich, Brentford and Brighton await in the next fortnight.
Saka did not play for 17 days in October after picking up a hamstring injury, sitting out England’s triple-header and missing two Arsenal games.
That is about as long as Mikel Arteta has ever had to contemplate without him but if it proves to be a serious injury then he will have to go to the drawing board as Arsenal have still not signed a recognised back-up.
Marquinhos came in from Brazil in 2022 but has been farmed out on loan ever since, while Raheem Sterling has failed to make a dent since joining on loan in the summer and also missed the Palace game with a knock.
Martinelli switched to the right flank against Palace, which would be the most natural way of replacing Saka. As a right-footer it will be a major shift in dynamic given how important the relationship between Martin Odegaard and Saka has been but Martinelli showed how he could offer something different when he drove down the outside and delivered a great cross for Havertz’ goal.
What did Mikel Arteta say?
We will bring you this after he has spoken at the post-match press conference.
What next for Arsenal?
Friday, December 27: Ipswich Town (H), Premier League, 8.15pm GMT, 3.15pm ET
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(Photo: Alex Pantling/Getty Images)