Two meetings with Crystal Palace, in the space of just four days, have revitalised Arsenal’s attack and brought new life to Gabriel Jesus. A week ago, the Brazilian striker was a fringe player with an uncertain future in north London. Now, having twice dismantled the Palace defence, he looks once again like one of the most devastating forwards in the league.

The speed of the transformation is quite remarkable. In the past few days Jesus has gone from wasteful to clinical, stodgy to sharp and largely irrelevant to now undroppable. They say goals change games and, on this evidence, they clearly change strikers, too.

Marc Guehi, the Palace defender, almost found himself in trouble with the Football Association recently for writing “I love Jesus” on his captain’s armband. At this rate, Jesus might soon be tattooing “I love Palace” onto his arm. Five goals in two matches, against the same opponent, has potentially changed the course of his entire Arsenal career.

“That is the beauty of football,” said Mikel Arteta of Jesus. “He could have scored a hat-trick again. He was patient and got rewarded.”

In this second contest with Palace, Jesus was far from alone in unpicking Oliver Glasner’s defence. Kai Havertz took his overall tally for the season to 11 goals, while Gabriel Martinelli and Declan Rice played their parts, too. In all, it was a thrilling attacking performance from a team that has struggled in the final third in recent weeks.

What was the difference between this thrashing and Arsenal’s recent inability to break down Everton and Fulham? There was a different zip to their game here. It also helped, no doubt, that they scored early. In total, Palace were chasing the match for 81 of the 90 minutes.

Arsenal are a strange team at the moment. It seems they either score five goals in a game, or not enough of them. This was the third occasion in eight matches in which they have scored five times, but that run of matches also includes last week’s goalless draw with Everton and the frustrating 1-1 at Fulham.

Overall in 2024, Arsenal have now scored five or more goals in six different away games in all competitions. No English top-flight team has ever done that before. When it flows for them, it really flows. “We were so clinical today, we were so good at scoring in different phases like we want to do,” said Arteta.

For Palace, the story was much the same as it was at the Emirates Stadium in the Carabao Cup in midweek. Glasner’s side are evidently capable of causing problems for Arsenal’s defence – they struck a lovely goal through Ismaila Sarr – but they cannot handle the array of attacking talent at Arteta’s disposal.

“From the first 60 minutes we can take a lot of positives,” said Glasner. “Of course, we will learn from it. We have to learn that when you give the top teams a crumb, they take the whole cake.”

For all his delight at Arsenal’s attacking performance, there was a source of serious concern for Arteta: Bukayo Saka limped off with a hamstring injury and then left the stadium on crutches. “He felt something in his hamstring,” said Arteta. “He couldn’t continue. He will have to be assessed. We are pretty worried about that one.”

With Raheem Sterling injured and Saka back in the dressing room, it was Martinelli who moved to the right. The Brazilian then played an important part in Arsenal’s third, scored by Havertz. It was Martinelli’s cross that allowed Jesus to head towards goal, and Havertz was there to convert the rebound off the post.

It was the fourth goal of a wonderfully entertaining first half. A criticism of Arsenal recently has been that they have been too controlled in their attacking play. Here, they pushed forward more recklessly, perhaps at the expense of defensive security.

It was with some inevitability that the resurgent Jesus struck the opening goal, buried at the back post after Palace had failed to clear a cross. A clinical finish, converted without fuss, and his second was even better. As the ball fell to him from a set-piece, Jesus arced a gorgeous effort into the top corner.

Palace had struck between those two goals, with Sarr bending in a terrific finish of his own, and there was a spell when Arteta’s side looked unusually anxious. David Raya and William Saliba have hardly made mistakes all season but they both wobbled in a wild few moments here.

Both players, though, went on to steady themselves. Raya, in particular, played a crucial role in keeping Palace out. His double-save at the start of the second half, to deny both Jean-Philippe Mateta and Sarr, came at a critical moment.

Only a few minutes later, Arsenal had their fourth and the match. Nathaniel Clyne was caught out of position, allowing Leandro Trossard to scurry in behind. Eventually it came to Rice, whose shot was nudged in by Martinelli. There was still time for Rice to add one of his own, curled in from the edge of the area with impressive style.

08:14 PM GMT

BREAKING: Significant Saka injury update

08:09 PM GMT

Arteta reacts

08:02 PM GMT

Marc Guehi reacts

07:55 PM GMT

Gabriel Jesus reacts

07:47 PM GMT

Arsenal close the gap on the top two

07:40 PM GMT

Fun away days out for Arsenal

07:34 PM GMT

‘Is it as simple as early goals?’

How do you explain Arsenal scoring five goals in three of their last eight matches, but also being unable to break down Fulham & Everton?

Is it as simple as early goals? Palace trailed for 81 of 90 minutes tonight. Arsenal scored after seven minutes v Sporting and 10 vs West Ham – and on both occasions scored five in total.

07:28 PM GMT

FULL TIME: Crystal Palace 1 Arsenal 5

All over at Selhurst Park and Arsenal leave south London with the points. Arteta celebrates five years in charge with his team scoring five goals.

The only blemish of the night will be Saka’s injury. Everyone connected with Arsenal will hope it is not as serious as it looked.

07:24 PM GMT

90+3mins: Crystal Palace 1 Arsenal 5

Arsenal have broken Palace’s spirit. The home team aren’t pressing the visitors any more and giving them time and space to play as they please.

The ground is rapidly emptying as well.

07:22 PM GMT

90mins: Crystal Palace 1 Arsenal 5

Five minutes added on.

07:17 PM GMT

85mins: Crystal Palace 1 Arsenal 5

Arsenal subs:

OFF Jesus, Timber
ON Nwaneri, Merino

07:16 PM GMT

84mins: Crystal Palace 1 Arsenal 5 GOAL

Inch-perfect finish from Rice. Calafiori finds Rice just inside the box and the midfielder uses the Palace defender in front of him to guide a brilliant finish into the far corner.

07:13 PM GMT

82mins: Crystal Palace 1 Arsenal 4

Fortunately for Arsenal, Calafiori is good to continue which will be a relief for Arteta. I suspect his ankle will be a bit swollen in the morning.

07:12 PM GMT

80mins: Crystal Palace 1 Arsenal 4

Palace subs:

OFF Mateta, Clyne
ON Kporha, Kporha

07:11 PM GMT

79mins: Crystal Palace 1 Arsenal 4

Yellow card for Clyne after a forceful challenge on Calafiori. The Italian screams out in pain and looks in agony.

VAR have looked at it and no further action will be taken. Clyne is a lucky boy.

07:09 PM GMT

77mins: Crystal Palace 1 Arsenal 4

Nketiah will be desperate to get another goal against his former team and he has been lively since coming on.

07:05 PM GMT

73mins: Crystal Palace 1 Arsenal 4

‘Set piece again ole, ole’ sing the Arsenal fans as the team gets another corner. Odegaard’s delivery is aimed at Gabriel of course but Palace do well to clear the danger.

07:02 PM GMT

70mins: Crystal Palace 1 Arsenal 4

Palace now struggling to breakthrough Arsenal’s deep block. The physical power of Calafiori and Rice is making a big difference.

06:59 PM GMT

67mins: Crystal Palace 1 Arsenal 4

Palace subs:

OFF Hughes, Lerma
ON Doucoure, Devenny

06:54 PM GMT

63mins: Crystal Palace 1 Arsenal 4

Guehi picks up a yellow card after flying into Martinelli.

06:52 PM GMT

60mins: Crystal Palace 1 Arsenal 4

Palace subs:

OFF Kamada
ON Nketiah

06:51 PM GMT

59mins: Crystal Palace 1 Arsenal 4 GOAL

Game over! Gabriel plays a lovely ball over the Palace defence to Trossard and he squares to Jesus, who has a tap in but Henderson makes the save.

From the rebound, the ball falls to Rice and his shot is tapped in by Martinelli.

06:49 PM GMT

‘Jesus has seemingly transformed’

It really is remarkable how Jesus has seemingly transformed into the player he was two years ago. He’s drifting wide, running past defenders, holding up the ball. In other words, he is doing all the things he has not been doing for most of 2024. They say that goals change games but they clearly change strikers, too.

06:48 PM GMT

57mins: Crystal Palace 1 Arsenal 3

Arsenal subs:

OFF Havertz, Lewis-Skelly
ON Calafiori, Rice

06:47 PM GMT

56mins: Crystal Palace 1 Arsenal 3

Some Arsenal changes coming with Calafiori and Rice imminent.

06:45 PM GMT

54mins: Crystal Palace 1 Arsenal 3

Lewis-Skelly is now picked up for time wasting on a throw on and referee Hooper awards the ball to Palace.

06:44 PM GMT

52mins: Crystal Palace 1 Arsenal 3

The tone of the half is being set at the moment. Arsenal seem happy to let Palace have the ball and sit deep.

But when Palace get through, Mateta blasts a swerving shot from distance which Raya does well to keep out. From the rebound, Sarr heads at goal and Raya is there again to make the save.

06:38 PM GMT

46mins: Crystal Palace 1 Arsenal 3

Sloppy header by Gabriel and Palace pick up the loose ball. Clyne’s ball into the box is met by Mateta but his effort comes off Sarr and forces Raya into a reflex save.

06:36 PM GMT

SECOND HALF: Crystal Palace 1 Arsenal 3

No changes at the break at Palace get us back underway.

06:29 PM GMT

The best in the league

06:23 PM GMT

HALF TIME: Crystal Palace 1 Arsenal 3

Arsenal lead at the break but it is not a commanding one. The next goal will have a major say on how the second half goes.

06:21 PM GMT

45+4mins: Crystal Palace 1 Arsenal 3

Lerma with a half chance for Palace. Clyne cross into the box is high to the back post. No one in the middle meets it but the onrushing Lerma comes in and catches it cleanly but Raya makes the save.

06:17 PM GMT

45+1mins: Crystal Palace 1 Arsenal 3

That third goal for Arsenal has taken the sting out of Palace. But if the home side can get the next goal then it will definitely be game on again.

06:15 PM GMT

45mins: Crystal Palace 1 Arsenal 3

Five minutes added on.

06:13 PM GMT

‘Arsenal are not playing with the same calm control’

Arsenal are not playing with the same calm control they have shown in recent weeks, and Arteta won’t be happy with the chances they are conceding, but they are certainly more dynamic and aggressive in attack. It feels like they are taking more risks in the final third.

06:13 PM GMT

‘The Jesus-Havertz combination’

In our pre-match coverage we discussed how the Jesus-Havertz combination has so rarely worked for Arsenal. Well, it certainly worked there.

This was Arteta’s original plan for Havertz: a midfielder for most of the game, and then a centre-forward when the ball goes wide. It’s a strategy that was effectively abandoned a year ago but, much like Jesus, it suddenly seems to be back in fashion.

06:10 PM GMT

37mins: Crystal Palace 1 Arsenal 3 GOAL

Who needs Saka? Martinelli gets to the byline and clips a cross into the box. Jesus meets it with a good header and his effort comes off the post. But Havertz is alert to the situation and gets to the rebound first and flicks in to score his sixth league goal of the season.

06:09 PM GMT

36mins: Crystal Palace 1 Arsenal 2

Gabriel hits the crossbar with a header from a corner. He outjumped Henderson there.

06:06 PM GMT

35mins: Crystal Palace 1 Arsenal 2

After a frantic start to the match, it has settled down. Timber picks up a needless booking for time wasting.

06:01 PM GMT

31mins: Crystal Palace 1 Arsenal 2

Gabriel is booked for pulling back Sarr near the halfway line.

06:01 PM GMT

30mins: Crystal Palace 1 Arsenal 2

Arsenal have the lead but Arteta looks a frustrated figure on the touchline. His team are playing very casually despite Palace’s impressive pressing game.

05:58 PM GMT

‘Arteta has no intention of relocating Jesus’

It is probably a reflection of the sudden brilliance of Jesus that, rather than moving the Brazilian to the right after Saka’s injury, Arteta has told Martinelli to play there instead. Martinelli has hardly played on the right wing, if at all, for the last few years.

Clearly, Arteta has no intention of relocating Jesus.

05:56 PM GMT

26mins: Crystal Palace 1 Arsenal 2

Looks like a hamstring injury for Saka after he immediately pulled up following an attempted cross. That could be a few weeks on the sidelines.

05:55 PM GMT

24mins: Crystal Palace 1 Arsenal 2

Arsenal sub:

OFF Saka
ON Trossard

05:54 PM GMT

22mins: Crystal Palace 1 Arsenal 2

Saka is down and in need of treatment after picking up a knock. Looks like he can’t continue as he very slowly walks off the pitch.

05:52 PM GMT

20mins: Crystal Palace 1 Arsenal 2

Arsenal get fortunate again. This time Saliba gives the ball away near the edge of his box. Mateta collects and enters the box, Raya comes out quickly and makes a big save to keep his team in the lead.

05:51 PM GMT

19mins: Crystal Palace 1 Arsenal 2

It’s been a breathless start to the match. Arsenal are taking big risks with the ball at the back as they slowly pass it and invite Palace on to them.

05:49 PM GMT

‘Hottest striker in the division’

Never underestimate the power of confidence in football. Gabriel Jesus, so poor for so long, suddenly looks like hottest striker in the division.

05:46 PM GMT

14mins: Crystal Palace 1 Arsenal 2 GOAL

What a game. Arsenal get their first corner of the match. Palace opt to leave three men up to keep Arsenal’s defenders occupied.

Martinelli’s ball to the far post is met by Partey and he plays the ball back to Jesus who curls a shot inside the near post and past Henderson.

05:44 PM GMT

11mins: Crystal Palace 1 Arsenal 1 GOAL

Quick response by Palace. Partey fails to get back and track the run of Sarr, who is running at Saliba. The Palace attacker enters the box and curls a fine shot into the far corner. Raya had no chance.

05:42 PM GMT

9mins: Crystal Palace 0 Arsenal 1

Arsenal get very lucky. Raya plays a short pass out to Partey and he is quickly closed down by Hughes and the Palace midfielder’s tackle sees the ball deflect wide.

05:38 PM GMT

8mins: Crystal Palace 0 Arsenal 1

23 matches without a league goal for Jesus until tonight. Great start for the away team and Arteta’s selection has been justified.

05:37 PM GMT

6mins: Crystal Palace 0 Arsenal 1 GOAL

It is that man again for Arsenal. Saka crosses from the right, Palace fail to deal with it and the ball falls to Jesus at the back post to get a really good connection and finish clinically.

05:33 PM GMT

3mins: Crystal Palace 0 Arsenal 0

Arsenal dominating the ball in the early stages as they try to invite Palace out of their deep block.

05:30 PM GMT

KICK OFF: Crystal Palace vs Arsenal

Arsenal get the match underway.

05:29 PM GMT

Here come the teams!

Some pyrotechnics greet the players as they walk out onto the team. Can Palace get their revenge or will Arsenal close the gap to leaders Liverpool?

Let’s find out!

05:24 PM GMT

A reminder of the teams

Crystal Palace: Henderson, Lacroix, Richards, Guehi, Clyne, Hughes, Lerma, Mitchell, Sarr, Kamada, Mateta. 
Subs: Turner, Ward, Nketiah, Schlupp, Chalobah, Doucoure, Devenny, Kporha,
Agbinone.

Arsenal: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly, Odegaard, Partey, Havertz, Saka, Gabriel Jesus, Martinelli.
Subs: Neto, Tierney, Kiwior, Trossard, Jorginho, Merino, Calafiori, Rice, Nwaneri.

05:13 PM GMT

Five years of Mikel Arteta have transformed Arsenal – but he must now win Premier League

Five years ago this week, two of Arsenal’s most powerful executives arrived in Manchester in the dead of night and knocked on Mikel Arteta’s front door. Much to the distaste of Manchester City, Arteta’s then employers, Vinai Venkatesham and Huss Fahmy were there secretly to close a deal that would bring him back to north London.

It was a moment that has since proven to be one of the most significant in Arsenal’s modern history. Those late-night talks, and Arteta’s subsequent appointment as Arsenal head coach on Dec 20, represented the starting point of a new era at the Emirates Stadium, and the beginning of the transformation of one of Europe’s biggest clubs.

Click here to read the rest of Sam’s piece.

05:06 PM GMT

Sterling absence explained

No Raheem Sterling on the bench for Arsenal and Mikel Arteta says the winger felt something in training yesterday and was therefore not risked.

05:00 PM GMT

Arsenal’s Starboy

Bukayo Saka is the third youngest player to reach 250 appearances for Arsenal.

• Cesc Fabregas (22y, 215d)

• David O’Leary (22y, 281d)

• Bukayo Saka (23y, 107d)

04:52 PM GMT

Sign up to our Telegraph Football newsletter

04:47 PM GMT

‘No surprise that Jesus starts’

It would have been a crime against football for Mikel Arteta to drop Gabriel Jesus after he scored a hat-trick - against the same opponents as today, no less - in midweek. So it is no surprise that the Brazilian starts again today.

What is perhaps more of a surprise, though, is that Kai Havertz has seemingly been pushed back to his role on the left side of Arsenal’s midfield. In truth, Havertz playing behind Jesus has never really worked. There is a reason it is usually one or the other. We’ll know soon enough if there’s life in the old experiment yet...

04:34 PM GMT

Palace team news

04:29 PM GMT

Arsenal team news

Starting XI: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly; Partey, Havertz, Odegaard; Saka, Martinelli, Jesus.
Subs: Neto, Tierney, Kiwior, Calafiori, Jorginho, Rice, Merino, Nwaneri, Trossard.

04:26 PM GMT

Early evening battle at Selhurst

Hello and welcome to coverage of the evening kick-off in the Premier League between Crystal Palace and Arsenal.

The two teams meet for the second time in four days after they clashed in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday.

After an early goal for Palace, Arsenal hit back in the second half thanks to a second half hat-trick by Gabriel Jesus.

The Brazilian will be desperate for another chance to build on his momentum and his manager Mikel Arteta says Jesus is gradually getting back to his best.

Arteta said: “He’s been really good since he came back from pre-season, after he had a setback, then he started to play some good performances without scoring.

“Obviously what he did the other day, I think it’s exactly what we needed from our night.

“Everybody in the team was really happy, and you can see his immediate reaction, big smile on his face, big energy around him. That’s what we need. To have everybody at the highest level of performance, and Gabi certainly had a big one on Wednesday.”

Palace will be without key midfielder Eberechi Eze due to injury. In Eze’s absence, Oliver Glasner’s team will attempt to extend their unbeaten league run to six games ahead of the busy festive programme.

Victories over Ipswich and the Seagulls, coupled with draws against Aston Villa, Newcastle and Manchester City, have eased Palace into 15th place, but just four points clear of the relegation zone.

He said: “For me the busiest part of Christmas is this week, three games in six days. We have one game on the 29th, but then we have a week until Chelsea, so the busiest period is now and it is good to have players available.

“And I expect Ebere to be available for Bournemouth. Of course it is important to have your team together, and we will go for getting a better result than two days ago at the Emirates.”