Arsenal put on a dominant display at Selhurst Park, delivering a resounding 5-1 victory over Crystal Palace, marking a perfect way for Mikel Arteta to celebrate his five-year tenure as manager. Gabriel Jesus, who had starred in the midweek Carabao Cup clash against Palace, continued his fine form with two goals, his first Premier League strikes since January. His performance, along with goals from Kai Havertz, Gabriel Martinelli, and Declan Rice, capped off a comprehensive win that saw Arsenal maintain their charge towards the top of the Premier League.
The match was a dream start for Arteta’s side, with Jesus finding the back of the net just six minutes in. A cross from Bukayo Saka found its way to Jesus, whose close-range finish put Arsenal ahead early. Despite this early setback, Palace quickly responded. Tyrick Mitchell’s pass found Ismaïla Sarr, who expertly curled a shot past Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya to equalize, showcasing his growing confidence after his brace against Brighton in the previous match.
However, Palace’s defensive frailties were exposed once again. Nathaniel Clyne failed to track his man during a corner, allowing Thomas Partey to set up Jesus for a second goal, which he dispatched past Palace’s goalkeeper, Dean Henderson. Arsenal’s relentless pressure continued, and when William Saliba made an uncharacteristic mistake, Jean-Philippe Mateta had a golden opportunity to equalize, but Raya made a crucial save to keep Arsenal ahead.
The game took another blow for Palace when Saka, who had already been dealing with a hamstring issue earlier in the season, limped off with a suspected injury after a sprint down the right wing. His departure was a concern for Arteta, who had already been without Raheem Sterling due to a training injury. Arteta expressed worry over the mounting injury problems, but the team’s resilience was evident as they pushed on.
Despite the setback, Arsenal’s dominance continued. Jesus, eager for his third goal, came close again when he headed a corner onto the crossbar, but it wasn’t long before he made another key contribution. His header from a Martinelli cross was saved onto the post, and Havertz was in the right place to tap in the rebound, extending Arsenal’s lead to 3-1. Palace’s defense was crumbling, and their hopes of a comeback were dashed just before halftime when Martinelli added a fourth, pouncing on a rebound from Declan Rice’s shot.
Arteta made several substitutions after the break, bringing on Rice and Riccardo Calafiori, and once again, the changes paid off. Rice, who had been a substitute in midweek and had made an immediate impact, sealed the win with a stunning goal. He curled a shot past Henderson from the edge of the box, confirming Arsenal’s dominance and giving the traveling fans even more to cheer about.
In the closing stages, Palace struggled to impose themselves. Daichi Kamada, starting in place of the injured Eberechi Eze, was unable to make an impact on the game, and his frustration was evident when he was substituted for Eddie Nketiah. The final whistle confirmed a crushing defeat for Palace, while Arsenal’s performance sent a strong message to their title rivals. With this win, Arsenal moved within three points of league leaders Liverpool, though they have played two more games.
For Arteta, the victory was a statement of intent. His side’s attacking prowess was on full display, and with the likes of Jesus, Martinelli, and Rice contributing, Arsenal showed they have the depth and quality to compete at the top. However, Arteta was quick to caution that the season is far from over, acknowledging the tough competition ahead. Nonetheless, with the team in such fine form, Arsenal’s prospects of securing the Premier League title have never looked brighter.
