Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal maintained their pursuit of the Premier League title with an impressive 5-1 victory against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park. This match showcased the returning form of Gabriel Jesus, who netted his first two league goals since January, following a hat-trick in the EFL Cup against the same opponent just days prior.
Jesus opened the scoring in the sixth minute, finishing neatly at the back post after a cross from Bukayo Saka. This marked the end of a 23-match goal drought in league play for the former Manchester City striker. Ismaila Sarr quickly leveled the score for Palace with a beautifully curled shot from the edge of the box, but Arsenal regained the lead just three minutes later through Jesus following confusion in the Palace defense after a corner kick.
In the first half, Arsenal’s advantage was further solidified when Kai Havertz scored after Jesus struck the post. The Gunners essentially sealed the match in the second half when Declan Rice’s shot was turned in by Gabriel Martinelli, and Rice later capped the game off with a stunning strike from outside the box.
This convincing win presents a significant statement from Arsenal, especially after facing criticism for relying heavily on set-pieces and being perceived as lacking in creativity during open play. With this victory, Arsenal climbs back into third place, just a point behind Chelsea and three behind Liverpool, who still have games to play on Sunday.
Notably, Arsenal has now gone a full calendar year without a loss in London derbies, a feat not achieved since Chelsea in 2005, and they became the first top-flight club in history to score five or more goals in six different away games in a single calendar year.
Overall, this match highlights not only Arsenal’s attacking prowess and the resurgence of Gabriel Jesus but also their relentless pursuit of the title. As the season progresses, the Gunners will look to maintain this momentum and capitalize on their current form.
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