Palace 1 Arsenal 5: Jesus makes it five goals in two games as Eagles have wings clipped by title-chasing Gunners
IT IS safe to assume you do not see too many stars in the night sky in Croydon.
Light pollution from the nearby IKEA superstore alone will see to that.
But Arsenal’s very own angel Gabriel appeared not once but TWICE to cap a memorable week for himself and help his team clinch victory in their last game before Christmas.
Striker Gabriel Jesus also played a part in the third goal which meant Kai Havertz and revitalised Arsenal secured three points and their place back in the top three long before half time.
They have the added cushion of six days now in which to prepare for their next outing – a home game against struggling Ipswich on Friday. And they do need it.
For while this finished up looking a fairly routine win, there were hairy moments of their own making for Mikel Arteta’s team.
The return of midfielder Declan Rice and defender Ricardo Calfiori in the second half was a welcome moment for the Gunners boss.
Whether it makes up for the loss of star turn Bukayo Saka in the first half, with the England man limping straight down the tunnel is another matter.
Underpinning the win were the defensive lapses which meant Palace were done for by half time and Arsenal were gifted a win.
Sloppy marking, then failing to clear and losing concentration from two corners had the game done and dusted by the break.
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Not that Jesus cares. He has enjoyed a phenomenal few days in his professional and personal life and won’t let anyone take the gloss of his glory.
Three goals inside the first quarter of an hour got the tempo of the game up and stirred the crowd.
Two of them came from the rarely-used Brazilian who is on a high right now after scoring a hat-trick against Palace in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday and added two more by the 14th minute last night.
His first was a gift after ghosting in unnoticed from the left side of attack to bury a low shot when Palace did not deal with a deep cross from Saka.
That was after only six minutes and it appeared the perfect start from which Arsenal would go on and romp it.
But the weaknesses in front of their own goal with Rice and Calafiori not fit to start were exposed when Palace burst down the left through Tyrick Mitchell.
Arsenal ratings vs Palace as Gunners stuff Eagles at Christmas with Gabriel Jesus reborn
GABRIEL JESUS produced his first Premier League goals since January on a day he could have had a hat-trick to continue his good form.
Gabriel Martinelli impressed and got on the scoresheet but Arsenal did suffer a blow in the first half as Bukayo Saka limped off with injury, while William Saliba had a rare off day.
Here is how SunSport’s Martin Lipton rated the Gunners display at Selhurst Park.
David Raya – 8
Lucky to escape a “Fraser Forster” moment as he played Thomas Partey into all sorts of problems early on before he was beaten by Sarr’s curler soon afterwards.
But then bailed out Gabriel to foil Mateta when he seemed certain to equalise once again and made more key saves from Sarr and Mateta at the start of the second half. Often there at the biggest moments.
Jurrien Timber – 6
Dutch defender looked slightly uncomfortable at times on the right as he gave Palace far too much attacking leeway.
Booked for taking an age and a half over a throw-in as well although it was not a costly one.
William Saliba – 5
All over the place in the first half as he seemed determined to open the door to the home side.
Saliba stood off Sarr and paid the price as Palace levelled and then made another blunder only for Raya to save from Mateta. Not exactly a dominant performance.
Gabriel – 6
Saliba’s wobbles meant his partner-in-chief had to stand up and be counted more than normal but he was not at his best either and a booking after half an hour had him walking a tightrope.
More of the same after the break. Fortunately Palace’s defensive deficiencies took the sting out of their attacking armoury too.
Myles Lewis-Skelly – 7
Youngster is grabbing his unexpected opportunity to make a first-team impact with an understanding of the inverted nature of the Arsenal full-back role.
By some distance the best of the four defenders in the Arsenal back division.
Thomas Partey – 7
Asked to take care of the defensive midfield task but soon to the fore with the lay-off that allowed Jesus to put the Gunners back in front inside the first 14 minutes.
Did what was needed defensively and willing to venture forward when the opportunity was there. Solid throughout.
Martin Odegaard – 8
When the Norwegian turns up, Arsenal turn up.
At Selhurst, Odegaard was the orchestrator in chief from the start, dropping deep to pick up possession and then keeping it simple and effective. The skipper is a leader.
Kai Havertz – 8
Back in midfield having played most of the season up top but he was in the perfect centre-forward’s position to tap into the empty net when Jesus’ header came back off the post.
Home hands went up but there were only the five Palace defenders playing the German onside. A tidy display on the ball but did leave his side slightly open defensively.
Bukayo Saka – 7
The early loss of the England winger to a worrying knee injury could be a major blow to Arsenal’s title chances.
Always the out-ball, Saka had signalled his ongoing threat as he made space to deliver the cross that led to Jesus’ early opener. He could be missing for a while now.
Gabriel Jesus – 9
Midweek hat-trick against Glasner’s men earned him only fourth Prem start of the season and how he took the chance with the early double and another effort off the post that led to a simple Havertz goal.
The Brazilian had been waiting more than 10 months for a top flight goal and got two in eight minutes. One against the woodwork and another missed sitter, too. He must want to play Palace every week.
Gabriel Martinelli – 8
Took the corner that led to Jesus’ second but then switched to the right flank after Saka limped away and supplied the cross which ended with Havertz making it three before netting himself from close range.
Arteta will need that level of return from the Brazilian over the coming weeks if this title challenge is going to be a real one.
Subs:
Leandro Trossard (for Saka, 25) – 6
Belgian will have to step up if Saka is out for a long spell after his injury and his low cross ended up bringing the Arsenal fourth.
Declan Rice (for Havertz, 58) – 8
England star came on to secure the game after Arsenal’s sloppy start to the second half and set up Martinelli with his first touch before steering home the fifth.
Riccardo Calafiori (for Lewis-Skelly, 58) – 6
Martinelli’s strike meant the game was over before the Italian had touched the ball. That makes it easier.
Ethan Nwaneri (for Gabriel Jesus 86) N/A
His diagonal ball inside found Ismaila Sarr as Arsenal stood off and he led backtracking centre half William Saliba a merry dance before curling in a shot from 15 yards on 11 minutes.
Jesus restored the lead when Palace could not clear the danger from a corner.
Jefferson Lerma’s header fell only as far as Thomas Partey, who laid the ball back for Jesus, again unmarked, to claim his second of the match and fifth of the week with a blistering finish.
Once the main man up front, he has not scored in the Premier League since January and only starts occasionally.
Nevertheless, he celebrated his three goals in midweek by stuffing the ball up his top and sucking his thumb having announced his partner is pregnant.
This time he held an imaginary phone to his ear presumably to get his agent on the phone to cash in on his return to form.
In the 37th minute, just as Palace were starting to rouse themselves from the early setbacks, Jesus then rounded off a perfect day by providing the assist for number three.
Another cross from the right, this time from Gabriel Martinelli and Jesus rose to head against the post.
Palace’s dozing defenders failed to respond as Havertz dashed in to tap home the rebound.
Not that there weren’t a few scares. Arsenal keeper David Raya especially will feel more assured now that Rice is back to shield his goal.
The England man came on for Havertz on 58 minutes and within 120 seconds took his first shot, which was diverted en route to goal by Gabriel Martinelli to make it 4-1.
Rice confirmed his return from injury by curling home number five in the 85th minute.
Raya made a double save from Jean-Hillippe Mateta and Sarr in the second half and produced an even better stop with his feet in the first when Palace’s big striker was through one-on-one.
Defeat takes the wind out of the sails for Eagles boss Oliver Glasner.
Much was made of his team’s spirited 3-1 win at arch rivals Brighton last week and they were unbeaten in five ahead of kick off.
But it’s also been seven weeks since they won a home game of any sort and they remain stuck in the bowels of the Premier League after this collapse – four points above the bottom three.