Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has expressed his confidence in Gabriel Jesus’ abilities after the Brazilian’s impressive hat-trick against Crystal Palace propelled the Gunners into the semi-finals of the EFL Cup. Jesus’ clinical performance, which included three different types of goals, has lifted the cloud of criticism surrounding his recent goal drought.
The 25-year-old’s hat-trick turned the game around after Jean-Philippe Mateta’s early opener, securing a 3-2 victory for Arsenal. Arteta praised Jesus’ display, stating, “I’m so pleased for him. Obviously, it’s been a long period for him without goals, and today to score three goals, the three types of goals he scored as well and the many actions he was involved in – he looked really sharp. I think it’s a great thing for him, it’s a great thing for the team as well that we can rely on a player with such quality.”
Jesus’ resurgence comes after a nine-month goal drought, which was finally broken in November against Preston in the same cup competition. Despite struggling to find consistency and score in the Premier League, Arteta remains optimistic about Jesus’ potential to contribute significantly to the team’s success.
Arsenal fans will be hoping that Jesus’ Carabao Cup hat-trick marks a turning point in his season, particularly with a favourable Christmas fixture list looming. With Palace, Ipswich Town and Brentford next on the agenda, Jesus has an opportunity to build on his midweek success and deliver in the Premier League.
Arteta’s endorsement of Jesus’ quality and reliability is a significant boost to the forward’s confidence. As Arsenal push for success on multiple fronts, Jesus’ resurgence could prove pivotal in driving the team forward.
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