Jesus hat-trick lifts Arsenal past Crystal Palace and into Carabao Cup last four
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It seems fitting that Gabriel Jesus should have chosen this time of year to end his goalscoring drought. A brilliant hat-trick from the Brazil striker sealed a stirring second-half comeback for Arsenal to book their place in the semi-finals after Jean-Philippe Mateta had fired Crystal Palace into an early lead.
![[Gabriel Jesus lifts the ball over Dean Henderson to score Arsenal’s equaliser.]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/efa6c963657919efab54b03605bbdd277b6ac6dc/65_83_1912_1147/master/1912.jpg?width=445&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
Oliver Glasner’s well-drilled side looked capable of springing a surprise until Mikel Arteta’s half-time substitutions changed the course of this tie, although it was Jesus – who had only found the net once in his past 34 appearances – who came to his manager’s rescue in the end despite a scare when Eddie Nketiah pulled one back late on.
Arteta said beforehand that Arsenal could use this competition as a springboard to winning bigger trophies but his team selection showed where his true loyalties lie. There were eight changes from the disappointing draw against Everton here on Saturday, with Kieran Tierney recalled for his first start since the 2023 Community Shield at left-back and Chelsea loanee Raheem Sterling also making a rare appearance.
There was no such tinkering from Glasner, who appeared incredulous at the suggestion he would not field a full-strength side in his pre-match TV interview and handed a full debut to 18-year-old Caleb Kporha in place of the suspended Daniel Muñoz. While Arsenal have surprisingly only won this trophy twice in their history and not since Steve Morrow’s heroics in 1993, Palace’s recent record has been woeful but the 6,000 supporters in the away end clearly fancied their chances of reaching the semi-finals for the first time since a famous victory at Old Trafford against Manchester United in 2011.
