Gabriels bring tidings of joy for Arsenal in thrashing of sorry Crystal Palace

This was almost the perfect way for Mikel Arteta to celebrate five years as Arsenal manager. Another two goals for Gabriel Jesus – his first in the Premier League since January – followed up his match-winning performance against the same opponents a few days ago as Kai Havertz, Gabriel Martinelli and the substitute Declan Rice with his first league goal of the season rounded off another victory over Crystal Palace.

Only the sight of Bukayo Saka limping off during the first half with a suspected hamstring injury could dampen the enthusiasm of the travelling supporters, whose side are now only three points behind the leaders, Liverpool – albeit having played two games more. But with Manchester City six points behind Arsenal and almost a speck of dust in their rearview mirror, Arteta will know they have never had a better opportunity to go all the way after clinically ­dispatching Oliver Glasner’s side.

Arteta said Jesus “deserves to play” after his hat-trick heroics in the Carabao Cup during the week and it took only six minutes for him to repay his manager’s faith. While Arteta made seven changes as Havertz shifted to a midfield role, Glasner decided to make alterations to his defence after they were outclassed in the second half of Wednesday’s quarter-final defeat, with Trevoh Chalobah dropped in favour of Chris Richards – the first time in 12 matches that Palace have changed their back three. But the home defence was all over the place when Saka swung over a cross from the right and Tyrick Mitchell could not prevent Jesus slamming home from close range when the ball fell kindly at his feet.

Mitchell made amends when his pass set up Ismaïla Sarr for the equaliser, although it was more down to the Senegal forward as he left Thomas Partey in his dust and curled a sumptuous shot past David Raya to follow up his two goals against Brighton last weekend. Yet with Arsenal’s players wearing black armbands in honour of their former player George Eastham, whose death was announced on Saturday, the visitors were soon back in front again.

Palace had received praise for the way they coped with Arsenal’s threat from set pieces in midweek. But Nathaniel Clyne was caught napping during a corner to the back post, which allowed Partey to set up Jesus, and the finish past Dean Henderson was unerring. A rare mistake from William Saliba should have resulted in a second equaliser for Palace, but somehow Raya clawed away Jean-Philippe Mateta’s effort from point-blank range.

There were more than a few frowns on the bench when Saka pulled up clutching his hamstring and he eventually had to be replaced by Leandro Trossard after receiving treatment. Only the express pace of Maxence Lacroix prevented Jesus from completing another hat-trick after the Frenchman had gifted him the ball, with Gabriel’s header from the resulting corner smacking off the crossbar. Palace’s relief was only temporary, however, as Jesus headed a cross from Martinelli against a post and Havertz tapped in having been played onside by the dozing Mitchell.

It could have been even worse for Palace had Martinelli’s effort not been saved by Henderson just before the break. No wonder Glasner looked far from happy as he trudged down the tunnel.

Arteta was late returning to the dugout for the second half and almost missed Saliba giving the ball away, before Sarr’s diving header forced Raya into a save. With the former Palace forwards Michael Olise and Wilfried Zaha both watching on in the stands, Sarr was proving a real handful for Arsenal’s central defenders, but he was thwarted again by Raya when he followed up Mateta’s piledriver.

The Arsenal manager responded by introducing Rice and Riccardo Calafiori and, as they had on Wednesday, his substitutions made an instant impact. There was a suspicion of offside against Jesus when he was picked out by Trossard’s cross, but Martinelli was on hand to stab home Rice’s shot on the rebound to crush any hopes the home supporters may have had of a comeback.

Daichi Kamada had started in place of the injured Eberechi Eze but could not impose himself on proceedings, and he looked less than impressed to make way for Eddie Nketiah, who had a goalscoring impact off the bench against his former club in midweek. This time it was Rice who rounded off the scoring when he curled home from Calafiori’s pass to confirm Arsenal’s dominance.