Arsenal’s Gabriel Jesus proved a thorn in Crystal Palace’s side once again as the Brazilian forward scored twice in a 5-1 win at Selhurst Park which put his side three points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool on Saturday.
Jesus netted a hat-trick as Arsenal beat Palace 3-2 in the League Cup quarter-finals on Wednesday having only scored once in his previous 33 appearances for Mikel Arteta’s side.
He found Palace to his liking again with two goals inside the opening 15 minutes and almost completed another hat-trick before the break as his header came off the post with Kai Havertz tapping in the rebound to make it 3-1.
Jesus was involved again as compatriot Gabriel Martinelli effectively killed off Palace on the hour and Declan Rice completed the rout with his first league goal of the season.
A lively start to the game had seen Ismaila Sarr level for the hosts and Palace were still very much in the match until Havertz gave them too much to do.
Arsenal moved back above Nottingham Forest into third place with 33 points from 17 games. Liverpool have 36 from 15 games with Chelsea, who face Everton on Sunday, on 34 from 16.
Palace are in 15th place, four points above the drop zone.
It was the sixth time in 2024 that Arsenal have scored five goals or more in away games in all competitions — a top-flight record for a calendar year — although on this occasion the scoreline was slightly flattering.
There was also a worrying injury to Bukayo Saka to take the gloss off their victory — the England forward having to go off with a hamstring injury in the first half.
Arsenal had only won three of their last nine league games, drawing four, to fall off the pace at the top. But they sent out a message ahead of their rivals’ fixtures on Sunday.
“It’s always really tough to come here,” Arteta, who celebrated five years in charge on Friday, said. “We started the game really well and then we had a bit of doubt.
