Jesus punishes Palace to reignite Arsenal title fight

Gabriel Jesus’s first-half brace fired Arsenal to an emphatic 5-1 win against Crystal Palace to take them within three points of Liverpool at the top of the Premier League.

- PHILIP DUNCAN

Just three days after his hat-trick propelled Arsenal through to the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup, Jesus was back among the goals after he scored either side of Ismaila Sarr’s strike in a frenetic opening 15 minutes at Selhurst Park.

Kai Havertz netted Arsenal’s third, seven minutes before the interval, and Gabriel Martinelli added another for the visitors on the hour mark. Second-half substitute Declan Rice then completed the rout six minutes from time.

Following consecutive draws in the league, Arsenal’s five-star triumph in south London keeps them hot on Liverpool’s heels with the Reds – who have two games in hand over the Gunners – in action at Tottenham today. It was the sixth time in 2024 that Arsenal scored five goals or more away from home – the most by an English top-flight club in a calendar year.

The only sour note for manager Mikel Arteta arrived after 22 minutes when Bukayo Saka was forced off with a hamstring injury. Saka headed straight down the tunnel and looks set for a spell on the sidelines. Jesus scored a 27-minute treble in

Arsenal's 3-2 win over Palace at the Emirates on Wednesday.

And the in-form Brazilian was on the scoresheet inside six minutes here.