Gabriel Jesus returns to form in the nick of time for Arsenal as Bukayo Saka is injured

LONDON – An injury to Bukayo Saka ahead of a busy festive fixture list cast a shadow over Arsenal’s 5-1 Premier League romp at Crystal Palace on Dec 21 but if manager Mikel Arteta was worried about that, at least Gabriel Jesus’ form offered some comfort.

Before the League Cup quarter-final against Palace on Dec 18, the former Manchester City forward had scored only once in his previous 33 appearances for Arsenal.

But the Brazilian bagged a hat-trick in the 3-2 win at the Emirates in midweek and was razor sharp again with two more at Selhurst Park. This helped third-placed Arsenal close to three points behind English Premier League leaders Liverpool, ahead of the Reds’ trip to Tottenham Hotspur on Dec 22. The result of that match was not available at press time.

Should Saka, Arsenal’s player of the season so far, be out for a significant time with a hamstring injury, an in-form Jesus will certainly be needed.

“He has certainly clicked and he needed that to unlock that confidence and belief,” Arteta said. “To score five goals in two games is not easy in football.

“He has done it in a great way, so let’s continue.”

Saka, who has scored five goals and has 10 assists in the Premier League this season, departed midway through the first half and left the stadium on crutches and must now be a serious doubt for the holiday fixtures.

“He (Saka) felt something in his hamstring,” Arteta said. “He couldn’t continue. He will have to be assessed, so I’m pretty worried about that one.

“It’s very difficult to give a prognosis now. They have tested him inside but it’s very difficult to say how bad it is.”

Jesus looks like a man reborn after seemingly forgetting how to score. He fired home after six minutes and smashed his second into the top corner after 15 minutes to restore Arsenal’s lead following Ismaila Sarr’s leveller.

He almost made it back-to-back hat-tricks when his header hit the post and Kai Havertz followed up to make it 3-1 before half-time. The 27-year-old missed another glorious chance from close range in the second half, seconds before Gabriel Martinelli made it 4-1. Declan Rice then completed the rout.

“At one point I was feeling (pressure) but still I never doubted my quality,” Jesus told the BBC.

“I never doubted I can score goals. Obviously when you are having a bad moment you have to keep your mind strong, and that’s what I tried to do.”

Former Arsenal midfielder Paul Merson suggested Jesus has tweaked his game, saying on Sky Sports: “He has changed his game – he is getting in the box more. He was in the box so much today.

“He has realised that assists aren’t enough to get him into this Arsenal team.”

The home loss leaves Palace in 16th place, four points above the drop zone.

Said manager Oliver Glasner: “From the first 60 minutes, we can take a lot of positives. We have to defend the box (better) but everything else was one of our best performances. The pressure we gave them, the balls we were winning in possession, how we move the ball and how many chances we created...

“We have to learn that when you give the top teams a crumb, they take the whole cake.” REUTERS, AFP