Jesus’ Hat-Trick Powers Arsenal Past Palace

Gabriel Jesus scored an amazing second-half hat-trick as Arsenal made a comeback to beat Crystal Palace in the EFL Cup!

December 18, 2024
11:01 pm

Gabriel Jesus was the star of the show with an amazing second-half hat-trick as Arsenal bounced back from an early setback to snag a 3-2 win over Crystal Palace in the EFL Cup, marking their fifth straight victory over the Eagles.

Even though Palace has struggled at Arsenal, they almost pulled off a surprise early on. Just four minutes in, a long ball from goalkeeper Dean Henderson created chaos in Arsenal’s defense. Jakub Kiwior misjudged his header, letting Jean-Philippe Mateta muscle past him and calmly slot the ball past David Raya for the opener.

Arsenal, with a rotated lineup, took a bit to find their groove. Raheem Sterling’s curling free-kick in the 31st minute forced a fantastic save from Henderson, keeping Palace in the lead. The Gunners had plenty of possession but struggled to break down their opponents in the first half.

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Mikel Arteta brought on Martin Ødegaard and William Saliba after the break, and they made an instant impact. Arsenal cranked up the pressure, with Sterling missing two golden chances and Mikel Merino firing just wide. The breakthrough finally came in the 57th minute when Ødegaard sent a perfectly weighted pass to Jesus, who coolly chipped over Henderson to level the score.

With the momentum on their side, Arsenal quickly took the lead. Jesus struck again in the 68th minute, connecting with a cut-back from the right and drilling a low shot into the corner. He completed his hat-trick with a stunning solo effort, charging from deep in his own half and smashing the ball past Henderson to cap off an incredible display.

But the drama wasn’t over yet. Former Arsenal player Eddie Nketiah pulled one back for Palace in the 85th minute, rising high to head home Nathaniel Clyne’s cross. Still, Arsenal’s defense held strong under late pressure, securing their spot in the next round of the competition.

Now, with their sights set on Saturday’s Premier League clash at Selhurst Park, Arteta will aim to keep Arsenal’s momentum going against a familiar rival.