sport news Gabriel Jesus' capacity for chaos can help Arsenal get over the line in the ... trends now
Gabriel Jesus was a laughing stock come full-time on Saturday. The Arsenal striker watched the final half-hour of this win from the bench but after the whistle, Jesus headed back on to the pitch and put the match ball under his arm.
He wore a smirk; behind him, Gabriel Martinelli could only point and chuckle. ‘Hat-trick,’ the winger laughed.
He had a point. Two goals don’t tend to qualify players for any match-day souvenirs. But perhaps, after the striker helped disfigure Leeds in another display of canny and chaos, we can allow him to bend the rules, too. You can certainly understand why Arsenal’s staff and players clapped their talisman back in the dressing room.
This had been a long time coming. Jesus had not started in the Premier League since mid-November. He had not scored for club or country since October 1.
Arteta had suggested ahead of this game that Jesus was edging back towards his best. That he was wreaking havoc in training once more. Here was the evidence that Jesus appears primed to play a pivotal role in Arsenal’s title bid.
Gabriel Jesus scored twice as Arsenal beat Leeds 4-1 on Saturday evening
His opening goal, a first-half penalty, was the product of Jesus’ industry and intelligence. He went haring down the left. His first foray into the box came to nothing. Before long, he collected possession once more: one feint bamboozled Rasmus Kristensen. Another put Luke Ayling on his behind. The defender felled Jesus; Jesus picked himself up to score from the spot.
Until then, Leeds had been the more threatening as Arsenal stuttered without Bukayo Saka. But that goal put them on course for a seventh-straight league win.
Their second, through Ben White shortly after the break, turned much of the second half into an exhibition. Before long, Jesus had stretched the lead with a fine illustration of his craft.
The No 9 drifted out to the right, allowing Leandro Trossard
