Jesus makes his point as superb hat-trick carries Gunners past Palace
MATCH-BALL SECURED: Arsenal's Gabriel Jesus celebrates after scoring his side's second goal. Pic: Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP
Gabriel Jesus reminded everyone that there is someone at Arsenal who can finish with a 27-minute second-half hat-trick that extinguished Crystal Palace's hopes of reaching the Carabao Cup last four.
That had appeared a distinct possibility when Jean-Philippe Mateta embarrassed Jakub Kiwior to give the Eagles an early lead.
Jesus had other ideas however and, once more skilful chance creators had been deployed at the break, claimed the match ball.
It is still hardly a vintage season for the Brazilian, whose fitness problems have been regular. His only contribution before this season was a cup goal at Preston.
But he made his point to Mikel Arteta, who celebrates his fifth anniversary as Arsenal boss tomorrow. Eddie Nketiah, sold by the Spaniard to Palace in August, did so too with a late header to make it 3-2 but Arsenal, without a trophy since Arteta's first season, progressed nonetheless.
Arteta shuffled his pack vigorously beforehand, making eight changes from Saturday's uber-frustrating 0-0 draw at home to Everton, which saw the Gunners enjoy the lion's share of the game but bite like kittens.
Forgotten man Kieran Tierney, who was exiled for a season to Real Sociedad and then injured on Scotland duty in this summer's Euro finals, was handed a first Gunners start since the 2023 Community Shield, with Thomas Partey shunted to right-back to fit in captain-for-the-night Jorginho at the heart of midfield.
Palace, on a high following Sunday's 3-1 league victory at Brighton, fielded a line-up was far more familiar, although 18-year-old Caleb Kporha was making a first start, at right wing-back for the suspended Daniel Munoz.
Barely three minutes were on the clock when Palace were gifted an opening goal. Goalkeeper Dean Henderson punted the ball downfield hoping it might reach Mateta, whose own body language suggested he had little chance in the air against Kiwior, who completely missed his header.
Imagine Mateta's surprise to find himself charging towards goal instead, the Pole trying desperately to make amends. The Frenchman kept his cool and slotted across David Raya from the left of the box.
Dreadful defending - Mateta had given Kiwior the gentlest of nudges with an elbow - but certainly quality finishing from the Palace man.
Arsenal were stung into retaliation - Jefferson Lerma was required to clear a corner off the line and Trossard blazed a decent chance over.
Jesus was at fault for letting Ismaila Sarr steal away and launch a low drive that Raya dived to bat away. Eagle tail feathers were well and truly up, so much so that Eberechi Eze launched a free-kick from his own half that cleared Raya and then the crossbar.
Kporha's debut was 22 minutes old when he was booked for hacking Trossard and it was from another free-kick, this time conceded some 20 yards in front of goal, that saw Henderson tip over from Sterling.
Arsenal's curate's egg of a half was summed up by another corner that Henderson punched away.
Trossard retrieved it, showed great skill to send defenders the wrong way but then produced a cross that went out for a throw-in. Arteta prowled the edge of his technical area arms crossed, expression murderous; Mateta went in at the break sporting a broad grin.
The restart saw Martin Odegaard and William Saliba replace Ethan Nwaneri and Partey while Palace swapped Kporha for the more experienced Nathaniel Clyne.
Sterling should have levelled within five minutes when Tierney's cross picked him out unmarked at the back post. Henderson did well to parry - but the on-loan Chelsea man scooped the rebound on to the bar.
The reprieve was short-lived however as Jesus levelled in the 54th minute. The Brazil striker, played in by Odegaard, evaded Trevoh Chalabah's lunge and sent a precision dink over Henderson.
Palace deployed Nketiah just before the hour mark but the next chance again belonged to Jesus, with Henderson saving with his legs.
Arsenal swapped Sterling for Bukayo Saka for the last 20 minutes after Tierney's return from injury ended prematurely - Palace were already hanging on.
Henderson was proving difficult to get past, however, with Merino firing at the England man, but it was Jesus' night.
Saka slipped him in - he was just onside, it seemed - and having taken a quick look up, the former Manchester City man drilled across Henderson and into the far corner.
Jesus made it 3-1 in the 81st minute when Palace were caught pushing up. Odegaard sent him sprinting through for another emphatic finish.
Nketiah headed home to make it 3-2 shortly after but Arsenal held firm.
Raya 6; Partey 5 (Saliba 46, 6), Timber 6, Kiwior 5 (Gabriel 87, 3), Tierney 6 (Lewis-Skelly 69, 4); Jorginho 6, Merino 6, Nwaneri 6 (Odegaard 46, 7); Sterling 6 (Saka 69, 6), Jesus 8, Trossard 6.
Henderson 8; Chalobah 6, Lacroix 6, Guehi 6; Kporha 6 (Clyne 46, 5), Lerma 6, Hughes 6 (Devenny 80, 3), Mitchell 6 (Schlupp 87, 3); Sarr 6, Mateta 7 (Nketiah 59, 6), Eze 6 (Kamada 59, 5).
Andrew Madley 6
