Gabriel Jesus earned the Man of the Match award in Arsenal’s 5-1 Premier League victory over Crystal Palace, but it was another Gunners star who stole the spotlight.
Arsenal delivered a strong performance in the London derby at Selhurst Park on Saturday, though the final scoreline belied the challenges they faced. Crystal Palace created several clear chances in both halves, but Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya stood firm, making crucial saves to keep his side ahead.
Declan Rice, returning from a minor injury that sidelined him for the Carabao Cup quarter-final, made an impactful second-half appearance after replacing Kai Havertz in the 58th minute. Rice set up Gabriel Martinelli’s goal to make it 4-1 and later scored a stunning curling effort from the edge of the box. His all-around performance included a 90% passing accuracy, 100% success in crosses, and winning all his ground duels, earning him an 8/10 rating from football.london.
The match ended on a bittersweet note for Arsenal with confirmation of Bukayo Saka’s potential long-term injury. Raheem Sterling also suffered a setback in training. Despite these blows, there were several positives. Gabriel Jesus continued his fine form, netting twice following his midweek hat-trick. Additionally, Raya’s goalkeeping heroics, Rice’s commanding presence off the bench, and Gabriel Martinelli’s strong display on the right wing were highlights.
With the win, Arsenal have reduced the gap to league leaders Liverpool to three points, though Arne Slot’s team still holds a couple of games in hand.
Leave a Reply