Arsenal

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Gabriel Jesus says "the pressure will always be there" to score goals after his hat-trick against Crystal Palace sealed Arsenal's place in the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup.

Jesus had scored only once this season before Wednesday's match – in the previous round against Preston.

His 27-minute treble marks the first time he has scored more than one goal in a match in 20 months and is also his maiden hat-trick in an Arsenal shirt, following his summer 2022 transfer from Manchester City.

After the game, Mikel Arteta claimed his number nine is now "back to his best" and hopes it is a turning point, after he spurned some good chances in their Champions League win over Monaco.

For his part, Jesus accepted he needed to be appearing on the scoresheet more regularly.

"I had pressure on my shoulders to score," Jess said. "Against Monaco I missed two clear chances. Obviously, I was disappointed that I didn't score in that game.

"I just had to keep my mind clear and strong. I work with [attacking coach, Hussein] Isa every day and he told me: 'Look Gabby, you're quality, you need to be calm and then you'll score'.

"That's what I did, and I'm happy to come back to score goals, because I have the number nine and the pressure will always be there to score. That's the challenge."

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Mikel Arteta believes that Arsenal have got Gabriel Jesus "back at his best."

The forward scored a hat-trick against Crystal Palace on Wednesday night to send the side through to the Carabao Cup semi-finals, his first goals at the Emirates since 17 December 2023.

"The movement, the quality of his touches, the way he finished, his reactions - that is a big, big thing for him and the team," said the Arsenal boss.

"It is a big message for the team in that we have got Gabby back at his best. Playing at that level he can really deliver for us.

"Gabby is someone who wants to do more. He wants to work harder and help the team more in every way. Today it got rewarded."

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We asked for your thoughts after Wednesday's Carabao Cup quarter-final between Arsenal and Crystal Palace.

Here are some of your comments:

Arsenal fans

Rachel: On the strength of that, we have a number nine. Gabriel Jesus is a class act but needs a run in the team to build confidence. Outstanding from Martin Odegaard - how flat we look without him. Wiliam Saliba is needed to boost the backline and then Bukay Saka seals the deal. Just play this way at the weekend!

Matt: I'm so happy for Jesus as he's had a rotten time of it for a while. If we can get an in-form Jesus back that really adds something to our attack. Roll on the semi-finals!

Ali: Great... a Jesus hat-trick in December is just what Mikel Arteta needs as justification for not buying a new striker in January. So on we go, another season without a trophy.

Guy: Arsenal made it hard for themselves again. Last year we had a solid defence that the attack could build on. With Ben White out we look more shaky at the back. Raheem Sterling was unimpressive as usual. Pleased to see Kieran Tierney back in the team and playing well.

Crystal Palace fans

Gary: Poor performance after the win at Brighton. We lacked energy and gave the ball away too easily. It shows the lack of depth in our squad. We stood off them and gave them too much room. It was a good idea to leave players up at Arsenal's corners though. Hope we get a better result on Saturday.

Steve: Disappointing, yet somehow predictable. We must shake off feelings of inferiority when playing teams like Arsenal. They are not invincible. Let's hope on Saturday that Palace take the game to Arsenal. Put them under pressure from the get-go, and let's see how good they really are.

Ian: Arsenal deserved the win but gutting to lose to an offside goal. Palace's 120-year quest for a major trophy continues!

Peter: Really happy with our overall performance and great to see youth players breaking through and getting minutes. Arsenal having to put on their premium players really showed how well Palace were doing.

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BBC Radio 5 Live reporter John Southall says the fine hat-trick scored by Gabriel Jesus in Wednesday's Carabao Cup quarter-final win over Crystal Palace will "do a lot for him".

The Brazil striker has faced criticism after struggling for goals this season. However, after finding the net at Emirates Stadium for the first time in a year in the second half, he went on to claim the match ball.

"People don't see what Jesus does when he doesn't score goals," Southall told BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast. "I think he'd also admit he hasn't started as many games as he would like. He has been injured as well, but he does need to score more.

"Before Wednesday night, it was one goal in 33 games, which is not enough. I know he has only come on for a few minutes in some of those matches but he is a centre-forward and should be scoring more.

"The hat-trick against Palace will do a lot for him. It will be interesting to see if he starts against the Eagles again on Saturday.

"It was a great hat-trick. The first one was a lovely dinked finish, the second smashed into the corner from the right of the area, and the third a run from the halfway line where he kept his composure and finished brilliantly.

"We have talked a lot about Arsenal centre-forwards - well there is your Arsenal centre forward. Now, can he do it in the next game?"

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Andy Cryer
BBC Sport Senior Journalist

Mikel Arteta has undoubtedly had backing for his Arsenal project with his 'trust the process' motto adhered to by many.

Since he came in, the Gunners have a net spend of £500.14m, according to data from Football Transfers, Man City's is just £59.75m in that same period, helped by significant player sales of young talent.

It also makes the £235.4m net spend from the five years previous pale into insignificance.

That has allowed him to build a younger, more harmonious squad from the group of players he inherited - including spending big on the likes of Declan Rice and Kai Havertz in recent times.

The Athletic's Rory Smith told BBC Sport: "It's seven years since Wenger left and that immediate succession was difficult, but since 2019 when Mikel Arteta took charge, it's been a pretty steep trajectory.

"They've come back to the position they've occupied since 2004, which was regularly qualifying for the Champions League, mounting title challenges and being one of England's undoubted elite.

"In the past year or two, it's maybe slowed down a bit. That might be because the final hurdle is the hardest.

When asked last month about managing Arsenal for 250 games, Arteta was clear what he thought his biggest achievement was.

"Bringing the club together, 100%," he said. "Lifting the spirit, giving a very clear DNA to the football club, and pride. To representing this shirt, from the players to everyone involved in the club, in the way that is expected at this level."

"Now it is about winning, that is the next step for sure."

Read the full article here

Arsenal are considering a move for 26-year-old Chelsea and England midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall in January. (Caught Offside), external

Meanwhile, Scotland left-back Kieran Tierney will leave Arsenal in the summer, after the club opted not to trigger a contract extension option for the 27-year-old. (Athletic), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column

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Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta, speaking after 3-2 win over Crystal Palace: "Really happy. We're in the semi-final.

"The game started in a way we didn't want with a very simple goal and then the team had to react in a great way. [They] showed a lot of character and so much desire to turn things around. Even in the first half [when] we lacked some threat, we created two or three big chances and didn't score.

"With a few adjustments in the second half we got a grip of the game again and we looked threatening."

On Gabriel Jesus scoring a hat-trick: "I'm so pleased for him. It's been a long period for him 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.

"I think it's a great thing for him and the team that we can rely on a player of such quality. It's the same with Kieran [Tierney] and other players who haven't started many games and today they had the chance to do so.

On how far Jesus can go now: "It's now about consistency. Now this is a moment of spark that will bring so much confidence, not only to him, but to the team as well that we can rely on him to change games.

"Now we need to take it and give him more games and chances. We need to give him more chances because when a player is in that moment it's important to continue that."

On making changes: "I thought it was appropriate and good for the team to make those changes. You are right or wrong in relation to the result basically.

"I think the players, especially the ones who haven't played much, deserved to feel important. And everything that they earn, with their attitude and their behaviours, the way they train, the way they play when they have chances, to feel that it's worth it.

"I'm really happy with that."

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Arsenal's hat-trick hero Gabriel Jesus, speaking to Sky Sports: "I have scored a lot of goals but sometimes I have this problem with a lack of goals.

"I can create, I can make assist, I can run and help the team defending. When I score everyone sees, but when I don't they want their striker to score goals and I agree with that.

"That is why I am working a lot in training, finishing more, putting myself in a good position to finish the action.

"I think my hard work has paid off."

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

Have your say on Arsenal’s performance

What did you make of Crystal Palace’s display?

Come back to this page on Thursday to find a selection of your replies

There are three Carabao Cup quarter-finals on Wednesday.

• Arsenal v Crystal Palace 19:30

• Newcastle v Brentford 19:45 - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Southampton v Liverpool 20:00 - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

All kick-off times GMT

Follow all the action and reaction here

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On the most recent episode of the BBC's Planet Premier League podcast, former Manchester City defender Nedum Onuoha says criticism of Arsenal about their goalscoring mirrors the debate from 12 months ago.

"It's funny because this is the same as it was a year ago when the talk was that they needed a number nine," Onuoha said.

"When January came all of a sudden it was like: 'Oh Havertz, what a great player we've got here. It's great to see him doing well. Never doubted him. He's such a great signing for Arteta'.

"I think they'll be fine, but I thought that for a long time and I put a lot of the eggs in the basket that they're going to win the league. As it stands, that's not looking so good, is it?"

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

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Friday marks five years since Mikel Arteta took charge as Arsenal boss. The Gunners have reached one domestic cup semi-final since their FA Cup triumph in the Spaniard's first season, but have competed for the Premier League title in the past two campaigns.

We asked you to have your say on Arteta's time in charge so far and whether the team can make the next step to more silverware.

Here are some of your comments:

Scott: Before Arteta arrived, I was on the verge of stopping my support for them because I felt like the Arsenal I grew up loving were gone. Mikel has rebuilt the club, made us solid, given youth their chance to make an impact, made difficult decisions, and been ruthless when needed. The progress from where we were has been fantastic, especially when you compare with other clubs like Manchester United. I think we have to remember he is a young manager doing remarkably well. The trophies will come!

Savs: Arsenal have come a long way in five years. And this was after a lot more than five years of gradual decline. The comparison is often made with a post-Sir Alex Ferguson Manchester United - it is a fair one and they are still in disarray. For this lens, Arteta has done a magnificent job. However, now comes perhaps the hardest final step: winning trophies. He should be given the time and opportunity to do this. But this has to be this season or next. Keep the faith. Keep supporting. Keep believing.

Tharun: He has done what Ruben Amorim is trying to do. We went from a team who were not finishing in the top four, which was disappointing, to not winning the league, which is disappointing. Now we know we can win silverware so we ought to expect one.

Lee: We will never win anything until a striker like Alexander Isak or even Marcus Rashford were to come in. I'm sure Arteta could get him back to his best and then teams would be more afraid of the striker and less dependant on trying to stop Martin Odegaard or Bukayo Saka. That would open more space for the team to do damage, especially in tight games.

After Arsenal failed to reignite their push for the Premier League title at the weekend with a goalless draw against Everton, boss Mikel Arteta said the result was "very disappointing".

Arteta believes his team "fully deserved to win the game", but the reality is the Gunners have now been forced to settle for back-to-back draws in the league - though they have the chance to reach the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup when they host Crystal Palace on Wednesday.

We asked supporter Harry Symeou, from The Chronicles of a Gooner, for his thoughts on Arsenal's form and what might need to be addressed in the January transfer window.

Harry Symeou can be found at The Chronicles of a Gooner, external

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On Friday, Mikel Arteta - the Premier League's third longest-serving manager and English football's fourth - will have been in charge of Arsenal for five years.

The Gunners face Crystal Palace at home in the last eight of the Carabao Cup later, as they go in search of their first trophy since the FA Cup in the Spaniard's debut campaign in 2020.

Arteta's side have only reached the semi-finals of a domestic cup competition once since then, as well as the last four of the Europa League. They have yet to reach another final and fallen just short in the Premier League in the past two seasons - and are currently trailing leaders Liverpool by six points this time around.

So, we want to know how you are feeling about Arteta and his time in charge. After the progress made so far, can Arsenal now make that next step?

Have your say here

Arsenal fan Alex Moneypenny

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Arsenal's inconsistent form is down to defensive injuries, according to fan Alex Moneypenny

The Gunners, who host Crystal Palace later in the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup, are third in in the Premier League after 16 matches, four points behind second-placed Chelsea and six behind leaders Liverpool, who have a game in hand.

However, they have dropped points against Everton and Fulham in the league this month.

"The issue with Arsenal at the moment is that we are so reliant on our full-backs to give us balance and structure and they are just not fit," Moneypenny told BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast.

"There is an argument that he puts too much physical strain on them.

"Calafiori isn't fit. We don't have Ben White or Tomiyasu. It's underrated how important full-backs are for Arsenal.

"We end up playing Thomas Partey on the right and Timber, who's right-footed, as the left-back, which causes a lot of problems.

"If we persist with some balance in those positions it will contribute us to playing well."

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We asked for your views on Stephen Warnock's comments on Arsenal being overly reliant on Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka.

Here are some of your comments:

Rajkumar: Arsenal need a prolific striker. You cannot depend on Saka and Leandro Trossard to score in every game. A top striker should have been bought in the summer as most fans see this as a shortcoming. Get someone like Lautaro Martinez or Dusan Vlahovic.

John: I am absolutely amazed Arsenal didn't make signing a striker their priority during the summer. It it clear to everyone that Kai Havertz is not good enough and it is time for Gabriel Jesus to be moved on. Every story coming out is 'Arsenal interested in X midfielders'. How many more do they need? If the number nine position is not dealt with, Arsenal will never win the league.

Peter: Arsenal could really use an efficient, goal-hungry striker, but not a selfish 'give the ball to me and I'll put it in the net' type. Their system of play demands that you put a real shift in defensively as well. havertz does that very well but lacks the cutting edge in his finishing. Flashes of it have been shown, but he gets crowded out by defensive blocks without help from other team-mates.

Darren: I think the problem is on the left side and not so much a centre-forward. As much as I like Gabriel Martinelli, he has lost his way a bit and the rest of the team know it. I lost count of the amount of times he was in acres of space out on the left on Saturday and they refused to pass to him and tried to always go right instead. Teams just double up on Saka knowing there isn't much of a threat coming from the left. If Martinelli or Trossard, or both, find their form again Arsenal will go back to destroying teams.

Jon: Definitely too reliant on Saka and Odegaard. This showed when Odegaard was out injured and there was no-one to replace him. Arsenal lost all of the creativity that he gives the team as he is the puppet master pulling all the strings that make arsenal tick. There is no one to replace Saka either. The last transfer window was dreadful. They knew what we needed and didn't do the business they needed to.

Bruno: I still believe Havertz has more benefit in the team than Martinelli or Trossard. That being said, if Havertz wasn't so passive in attack and we had a striker like Alexander Isak, who is far more technical and direct than Havertz, our left wingers would no doubt find a bit more success in the final third. Havertz is really the only option for Odegaard to play a one-two with before the ball inevitably ends up with Saka.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has been speaking to the media before Wednesday's Carabao Cup quarter-final against Crystal Palace (kick-off 19:30 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Defenders Oleksandr Zinchenko and Riccardo Calafiori are not available for Wednesday's game.

• Declan Rice "is fine", but Arteta will make a decision on whether the midfielder will play after training.

• He said playing Crystal Palace "is always really tough" and "it is another layer of difficulty when you play a team twice in a row."

• On if Ethan Nwaneri and Martin Odegaard can play together: "It depends on who they're surrounded with and what positions they can play. He [Nwaneri] can play as an right attacking midfielder, left attacking midfielder and a winger. I also think he can develop as a nine."

• In response to whether Arsenal will be looking to do business in January: "It will depend on who the player is, what the value of that player is and other movements in the squad. That is a difficult one to answer."

• He said he will not have a celebration to nod to his five years at the club, but will "reflect on it" because "five years in the job of this size is very big."

• On how winning the Carabao Cup can help them challenge for the Premier League: "I think it is really helpful. It brings belief, trust and positive energy. Touching a cup generates that energy and I think it creates the right path."

• He had a quick response when asked if he's not played Raheem Sterling for a particular reason: "No."

Follow all of Tuesday's news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Stephen Warnock believes Arsenal are relying too much on Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka as the Gunners' attacking from open play is being questioned.

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club, the former Liverpool defender said: "There's a bit of a reliance on Saka and Odegaard, if you can keep those two players quiet.

"Martinelli and Trossard aren't quite performing, Havertz isn't where he was a few months ago. There's been a drop off from Declan Rice - that balance isn't quite right.

"There's a lot to be said about the way Arsenal have played, I think it's been slower and not as dynamic and quick.

"They've tried to control games a little bit more and it's gone against them in a way."

Watch the full episode on BBC iPlayer or listen on BBC Sounds

What do you think Arsenal fans? Is there an over reliance on Saka and Odegaard? What would you like to see change for the Gunners to create more from open play?

Have your say here