A gritty win in the Carabao Cup quarter-final was highlighted by a return to form of Gabriel Jesus.
After his return against Club Brugge in the Champions League, many Arsenal fans admitted that Jesus made them better.
Following brief stints coming off the bench, Jesus made his first start of the season for Arsenal against Crystal Palace.
The Brazilian’s return to the starting line-up positively impacted the team, with Gabriel Martinelli being the biggest beneficiary of Jesus’ presence.
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Gabriel Jesus played 86 minutes against Crystal Palace before being subbed off for Declan Rice. His most noteworthy contribution came just a few minutes before his exit.
Near the 80th minute, Jesus’ shot was parried away for a corner by Walter Benitez, giving Arsenal the corner kick that led to Maxence Lacroix’s own goal.
Jesus looked motivated throughout the game, taking shots and trying to create chances for the rest of the attackers whenever possible.
After the game, Mikel Arteta applauded Jesus for his contribution, acknowledging the arduous road to recovery the Brazilian forward has had over the last year.
“I’m so happy. And it was his 100th appearance today, I believe. That explains the journey that he has. A lot of bumps in the road.
“But a player with an incredible resilience, fight, and the spirit that, 11 months after, he’s able to perform in the manner that he did. So, great to have him back.”
With Jesus finding his rhythm again, Arteta will have yet another arrow in his quiver when it comes to his selection of attackers.
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Despite the positive remarks from Arteta, Jesus’ future is still up for discussion, as the forward might find himself starved for opportunities on the team after the Carabao Cup quarter-final.
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Arsenal reportedly tried to swap Jesus for Jonathan David, only to be rebuffed by Juventus over concerns about the Brazilian’s injury record.
On his end, Jesus has ruled out a move this January, declaring his intention to stay with the Gunners until 2027 at the very least.
However, with Jesus’ camp reportedly eyeing a move to AC Milan, the forward could be tempted by the prospect of more guaranteed playing time.
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