Arsenal’s place in the Carabao Cup semi-finals was secured by the brilliance of Gabriel Jesus, whose hat-trick sank Crystal Palace 3-2 in a tense London clash.
It was a rare start for the Brazilian this season, but he made every minute count. The Emirates crowd roared his name long after the whistle, and Mikel Arteta joined in the praise, calling him a “big asset” to the squad.
“I’m delighted for him,” Arteta said after the game. “It’s been a while since he found the net, and to get three today was huge. He looked sharp, inventive, and dangerous—qualities you can’t teach. When Gabi hits that level, he’s priceless for us.”
The numbers backed up the spectacle. Jesus struck with clinical precision, finishing with 100% shot accuracy, completing 87% of his passes, and touching the ball 10 times inside the opposition box. The Standard handed him a 9/10 rating, while Fotmob’s stats painted the picture of a forward at the top of his game.
Still, the months ahead will define far more than just this cup run. Since joining from Manchester City, Jesus has struggled to consistently influence Premier League games. This performance hints at a turnaround, but his future in North London remains uncertain.
With just four goals in all competitions this season—and none yet in the Premier League or Champions League—he still has much to prove.
Whether he cements his place or becomes a name on the summer transfer list will depend on how he performs in the season’s decisive stretch.
For now, though, Arsenal’s progress owes much to a striker who reminded everyone why they signed him in the first place.