Festive Cheer For Gunners As Jesus Shines In Arsenal’s Win Against Crystal Palace

Arsenal demonstrated their qualities with a resounding 5-1 victory over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.

This win solidified their position in the Premier League and also marked a significant milestone as they became the first team since Chelsea in 2005 to go an entire calendar year unbeaten in London derbies, boasting an impressive record of 8 wins and 2 draws.

Gabriel Jesus Shines Again

Gabriel Jesus was undoubtedly the star of the show, netting two goals and proving why he earned a starting spot after his hat-trick in the EFL Cup against Palace just days before.

The Brazilian striker opened the scoring just six minutes into the match. Following a cross from Bukayo Saka that deflected off Gabriel Magalhães, Jesus seized the opportunity, side-footing the ball into the net for his first Premier League goal.

However, the excitement of the opening goal was quickly tempered as Crystal Palace responded with an equalizer just five minutes later.

Ismaïla Sarr, in fine form, bent a stunning effort around William Saliba and into the far corner, bringing the score to 1-1 and igniting hopes of a competitive contest.

A Breathless First Half

The first half was nothing short of exhilarating, with both teams pushing for dominance. Arsenal regained the lead shortly after, with another goal from Jesus.

Following a corner taken by Gabriel Martinelli, the ball was partially cleared but fell perfectly for Jesus, who expertly controlled the ball before firing it into the corner of the net.

The Gunners continued to apply pressure, and their relentless attacking paid off once again when Kai Havertz extended the lead to 3-1. Reacting swiftly to a header from Jesus that hit the far post, Havertz was in the right place at the right time, slotting home the rebound and sending Arsenal into the break with a comfortable advantage.

Palace’s Struggles Continue

Crystal Palace, needing a response, came out strong in the second half and nearly reduced the deficit immediately. David Raya, Arsenal’s goalkeeper, was called into action multiple times, making crucial saves from Sarr’s diving header and a long-range effort from Jean-Philippe Mateta.

With an hour played, Arsenal looked to put the game beyond doubt. A well-executed team move nearly resulted in Jesus securing his third goal of the match, but Palace’s goalkeeper, Sam Johnstone, made a fantastic save.

However, the rebound fell to Martinelli, who calmly slotted it home, making it 4-1 and effectively sealing the points for the Gunners.

Late Injury for Saka

As the match drew to a close, Declan Rice, who had come on as a substitute, added a fifth goal for Arsenal, guiding the ball into the net and capping off a fantastic evening for the North London club.

Despite the emphatic scoreline, the only significant concern for Arsenal was the injury to Bukayo Saka in the first half, which will be closely monitored as the season progresses.

Looking Ahead

With this victory, Arsenal now finds themselves in a strong position in the Premier League, just three points behind Liverpool, although they have played more matches than their title rivals.

On the other hand, Crystal Palace’s defeat leaves them languishing in 15th place, still searching for their first home league victory of the season. Despite having lost only one of their last eight Premier League fixtures before this match.