Arteta thinks Jesus is now back to his best after his Crystal Palace hat-trick

Mikel Arteta has praised Gabriel Jesus following his hat-trick against Crystal Palace, highlighting the striker’s importance to Arsenal’s attack. Jesus has faced criticism in recent months for his lack of goals, but his performance against Palace showed why Arteta continues to back him. Arteta said: “I’m so pleased for him. It’s been a long period without goals, and today, to score three goals – the three types of goals that he scored – and the many actions he was involved in, he looked very sharp. It’s a great thing for him and the team that we can rely on a player of such quality.” This performance serves as a reminder of Jesus’ versatility and ability to deliver in big moments. Each of his goals showcased different attributes: composure, positional awareness, and clinical finishing. It also signals that Jesus is regaining his sharpness, which has been missing in recent games. Arteta acknowledged the need for “consistency” from Jesus, but this hat-trick silences critics temporarily. The challenge for the Brazilian is to sustain this level of performance. If he can, it will alleviate pressure on other attackers and ease the urgency to sign a new striker. This resurgence could also redefine Arsenal’s transfer plans. A consistent Jesus might shift the club’s focus from acquiring a marquee striker to strengthening other areas of the squad. For Arsenal fans, this performance rekindles hope that Jesus can deliver the goals needed to compete for major trophies this season. The onus is now on the striker to build on this momentum and become the consistent scorer Arsenal needs.

Read full story on Just Arsenal News