Arsenal player ratings: Gabriel Jesus resurrects Gunners career with three fine finishes but Sterling still yet to shine
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GABRIEL JESUS netted a hat-trick to see Arsenal into the Carabao Cup Semi-Finals after the Gunners found themselves 1-0 down within three minutes. Disaster looked like it had struck in just the third minute when Jakub Kiwior failed to clear a Dean Henderson long ball up the pitch, which allowed Jean Phillipe Mateta to open the scoring.
![[Gabriel Jesus scored a hat-trick against Crystal Palace]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/2024-arsenals-gabriel-jesus-celebrates-958377908.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
The chances came and went for Arsenal, with Raheem Sterling missing from just inches out TWICE which saw it 1-0 at the break. Mikel Arteta made two key changes which changed the game for the Gunners, one of which was the magisterial Martin Odegaard who almost instantly set up Jesus to level things up.
![[Raheem Sterling continued to struggle in an Arsenal shirt]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/raheem-sterling-arsenal-looks-carabao-958375192.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
And before you knew it Jesus, who looked like his career was over as Arsenal's number nine, had buried two more fine finishes to secure the Gunners' victory. A late consolation from returning striker Eddie Nketiah was not enough to see Palace get back in the game.
![[Kieran Tierney impressed on his return to the team]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/kieran-tierney-arsenal-takes-throw-958377009.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
Here's how SunSport's Lloyd Canfield rated the players... Didn't have much to do after conceding to Jean Phillipe Mateta early inside three minutes, and there wasn't a whole lot he could do about the goal. Claimed crosses well and distributed well from the back too, another pretty solid performance.
![[Ethan Nwaneri impressed before he was subbed off]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/ethan-nwaneri-jakub-kiwior-arsenal-958373309.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
Sideways. Backwards. Sideways. Backwards. Sideways... CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS. You get the jist - very poor in an attacking sense and seemed laborious throughout the game. Was hooked at half-time and replaced by the imperious William Saliba.
![[Jesus got to keep the match ball]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/gabriel-jesus-arsenal-poses-photo-958382259.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
