Arsenal made a powerful statement in their Premier League campaign by overpowering Crystal Palace 5-1 at Selhurst Park on Saturday, reclaiming third place in the table. Gabriel Jesus, who struck a hat-trick against Palace in midweek cup action, continued his personal scoring spree with two more goals—bringing his tally to five against the same opponents in less than a week.
Jesus Starts the Party Early
The Gunners wasted no time imposing themselves, with Jesus finding the net just six minutes in. The Brazil international latched onto a well-weighted pass from Bukayo Saka on the right flank, finishing with precision to break his Premier League drought stretching back to January. However, Arsenal’s early advantage lasted only a few moments.
Sarr’s Quick Reply and Missed Chances
Palace forward Ismaila Sarr produced an immediate response five minutes later. Tyrick Mitchell picked him out on the edge of the box, and Sarr curled a sweetly-hit shot beyond David Raya to level the score. It was a glimpse of the threat the home side could offer, though Sarr would later rue missed opportunities in the second half—including a close-range header that Raya managed to smother.
Arsenal Turn the Tide
Undeterred by Palace’s equalizer, Arsenal pressed for more. A scramble in the box following a corner allowed Jesus to prod the ball in off the post for his second of the afternoon. He nearly bagged a third just before halftime, rattling a header against the frame of the goal. Fortunately for Mikel Arteta’s side, Kai Havertz reacted fastest to poke in the rebound, handing Arsenal a 3-1 lead.
Second-Half Domination
Despite Palace showing sparks of resistance after the interval—thanks again to Sarr’s aerial attempts—Arsenal extended their dominance. Jesus forced a save from Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson, setting up substitute Declan Rice to power home a shot that Gabriel Martinelli tapped over the line, putting the visitors out of reach at 4-1.
Moments later, Rice got on the scoresheet himself with a curling effort from the edge of the area, icing the Gunners’ rampant display and lifting them back above Nottingham Forest, who had temporarily climbed into third earlier in the day.
Saka’s Injury and Arteta’s Milestone
The comprehensive victory does come with a note of concern—Bukayo Saka limped off midway through the first half, potentially casting a shadow over Arsenal’s buoyant mood. Meanwhile, manager Mikel Arteta marked his fifth anniversary in charge of the club in style. His side is now only three points adrift of league leaders Liverpool, though the Merseysiders still have two matches in hand.
Arteta has voiced ambitions of guiding the Gunners toward major trophies, and with performances like these, Arsenal’s supporters will be hopeful that their wait for a Premier League title—stretching back to 2004—might soon come to an end.
