MOTD pundits praise Arsenal goalscorer’s “wonderful performance”

Alan Shearer and Ashley Williams praised Gabriel Jesus for his performance against Crystal Palace on Saturday, with the forward adding two more goals to his personal tally.

Gabriel Jesus impressed again on Saturday with two goals against Crystal Palace, and he was unlucky not to have his second hat-trick in a week against the same opposition.

Jesus opened the scoring with a finish from close range, capitalising on a loose ball after Bukayo Saka’s cross evaded most of the penalty area.

Palace quickly equalised, but Jesus had Arsenal back in the lead minutes later with a fantastic finish in off the post after a corner.

The Brazilian forward had his first chance to complete the hat-trick in the 38th minute, heading a Gabriel Martinelli cross against the post. Kai Havertz converted the rebound for 3-1.

But there was an even better chance to come just before the hour mark, with Leandro Trossard finding Jesus in the centre of the penalty area. The striker’s left-footed shot was saved, but Declan Rice and Martinelli combined to score from the rebound once again.

Jesus even won the ball back for Arsenal’s fifth, and Palace must have been sick of the sight of the 27-year-old by the time he was taken off in the 84th minute, having lost 3-2 in their midweek League Cup tie to three Jesus goals.

“I think Mikel Arteta deserves a lot of credit because of what happened in midweek,” Alan Shearer said on Match of the Day after Saturday’s game. “[Jesus] gets his goals, [Arteta] had to start him today, and it was a wonderful performance from him.

“His all-around play was very, very good today, whether he was bringing people into the game with little touches…going in behind…you can see he’s got a pace about him again.”

“At Manchester City, he was like he was today,” Ashley Williams added. “He was sharp, he’s always working, he never gives you time on the ball, he’s always pressing you. He had a really good knack of arriving at the right time in the box.

“I think he’s missed that a little bit (lately), but a bit of consistency and playing like he did today will do him well.”

Jesus himself admitted he’s been feeling some pressure before he got off the mark this week, but he believed he’d turn things around.

“Yes, at one point I was feeling that [weight on my shoulders],” Jesus conceded. “But still, I never doubt my qualities, I never doubt that I can score goals. When you’re having a bad moment, you have to keep your mind strong. That’s what I try to do.

“When I play and when I leave with a smile on my face, everything is different.”