Arsenal must give Jesus more chances after Palace hat-trick – Arteta

Mikel Arteta says Arsenal must give Gabriel Jesus “more chances” after his hat-trick booked the Gunners’ place in the EFL Cup semi-finals.

The Brazil forward scored three times in the second half, as Arteta’s side came from behind to edge out Crystal Palace 3-2 at Emirates Stadium on Wednesday.

Jesus – making only his eighth start in 21 appearances across all competitions this term – quadrupled his goal tally for the campaign, while finding the net on home soil for the first time in a year.

And Arteta hopes the 27-year-old will subsequently rediscover his goalscoring touch in the Premier League, having not netted a top-flight goal since January 30.

“It’s now about consistency,” the Spaniard said. “It’s a moment of spark that will bring so much to the team, that we can rely on him to change games. We need to give him more chances.

“It’s good that we have players knocking on the door.”

Jesus said he reaped the rewards of extra hours on the training pitch to improve his finishing, and he hopes to stay in the goals and boost Arsenal’s Premier League title bid.

“I wear the number nine for Arsenal, so I have to be scoring goals,” he told BBC Radio 5 live. “Kai [Havertz] as well. We are the strikers of the team and have a pressure to score.

“If you want to challenge for a place, we have to keep scoring. It is not easy. If it was, then there would be many strikers in the world, but we keep trying.

“I came here to win the Premier League and, my first two seasons, we were there, but for some details. This third season, I want to win.”

Thanks for bringing the energy, Gooners

See you in south London on Saturdaypic.twitter.com/mwbKxkrTjN

— Arsenal (@Arsenal) December 18, 2024