Arsenal’s goal woes are a thing of the past, and Mikel Arteta should have a lot of positive things to say about the Gunners’ 5-1 win over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Saturday.
He also had thoughts to share about two his big-name forwards, as Gabriel Jesus continued his big week in front of goal and Bukayo Saka limped off with injury away from home.
Jesus scored a second-half hat trick at midweek in Arsenal’s 3-2 home comeback win over Crystal Palace in the League Cup, then bagged a brace on the other side of London against the same opposition on Saturday.
The 27-year-old Brazilian has struggled with injury through his time at Arsenal, beginning with a lightning-when-healthy first season in 2022-23. His minutes have declined from 2,347 to 1,910 last season. and he entered Saturday’s game with just 795 minutes this season. His only goals (4) had come in the League Cup.
Saka’s had no such trouble with producing offense but his apparent knee injury at Palace will lead to lots of concern.
Mikel Arteta reaction — What did Arsenal manager say about Gabriel Jesus form, Bukayo Saka injury
Arteta on the win: “Today was a really good win. We started a bit down but we grabbed control, the dominance again and scored goals from various types of play. ... Dominance wise, situations, chances, areas on the pitch, those two games were probably better but that’s football.”
Arteta on Bukayo Saka’s injury: “We lost [Raheem Sterling] yesterday and now Bukayo today. That’s a worry. We don’t know the extent of the injury. We have to assess him but the players have come in. They come in and are really performing. Let’s hope it’s not too much.”
On being surprised by Gabriel Jesus red-hot form: “That’s the beauty of it — when a player is in that moment, things come to you. He’s got the confidence as well because of the goals he scored the other dya. Really happy to have our strikers firing.”
Gabriel Jesus reaction
Gabriel Jesus now has five goals in a half-week’s worth of work, driving his output toward last season’s campaign.
“We did the job and I am very happy with the goals as a number nine,” Jesus said via the BBC. “I know the pressure is always on to score. I am happy but the win, the three points, was massive today.”
He sounds happy not only to be back amongst the goals, but just making it onto the pitch.
“I’m the type of guy that wants to work hard,” Jesus said. “I know my qualities. I know I can score. In my mind I know I can score, I just have to put myself in a good position to finish the action like today. I put two in the net and missed one I will be dreaming of. When I play with a smile on my face everything is different so I am trying to keep my mind strong and just help the team. I understand I have to be more in the box to finish the action.
“It is great to be back in the team playing more. I am experienced enough and know when a player is playing constantly it is different. I am happy to get more chances but it is up to me to put myself in the right places to score. It is Arsenal, it is a huge club and I know the pressure for the number nine to score is there.”
