Gabriel Jesus scored his first two Premier League goals since January as he rounded off a fine week with a brace in Arsenal’s impressive 5-1 win at Crystal Palace.
Jesus netted a hat-trick against Palace in the EFL Cup earlier this week and played a starring role again, marking a return to form for the Brazilian.
His double on Saturday ensured Jesus became the first player to score five consecutive goals for the Gunners since Robin van Persie in February 2011.
He opened the scoring in just the sixth minute, providing a clinical finish at the back post after a Bukayo Saka cross went all the way through to him via a touch off Gabriel Magalhaes; that ended a run of 23 Premier League appearances without a goal for the former Manchester City forward.
Ismaila Sarr levelled soon after with a lovely curling finish from the edge of the box at the end of a flowing move, but Arsenal were ahead again just three minutes later thanks to Jesus.
This time an Arsenal corner characteristically caused panic in the Palace defence, resulting in Thomas Partey teeing up Jesus for a controlled strike into the top-right corner.
Jesus almost secured a first-half hat-trick in the 38th minute when he headed against the post, but Kai Havertz was on hand to increase Arsenal’s lead.
Any hope of a Palace fightback was essentially quashed just after the hour mark. Jesus squandered another hat-trick chance when shooting straight at Dean Henderson, but the ball then fell to substitute Declan Rice, whose scuffed shot was turned in by Gabriel Martinelli.
Rice wrapped things up towards the end with a gorgeous effort into the bottom-right corner from 18 yards.
Having been recently accused of being over-reliant on set-pieces and criticised for a perceived lack of creative threat in open play, this felt like something of a statement win for Arsenal.
Victory moves them back above Nottingham Forest and into third, a point behind Chelsea and three adrift of Liverpool both of whom play on Sunday.
