Photo credit: Getty Images
Gabriel Jesus scored a hat-trick for Arsenal against Crystal Palace on Wednesday night, following a brief message to Martin Odegaard.
Gabriel Jesus revealed what he told his Arsenal teammate Martin Odegaard to inspire his hat-trick heroics in the recent Carabao Cup quarter-final against Crystal Palace.
Jesus, who had been struggling with form this season, scored three goals in just 27 minutes after coming off the bench. He credited Odegaard for his assists, saying, “The quality that Martin has is amazing. He’s a type of player that can pass these balls and put you in front of the goal. That’s what I was telling him; I said, ‘Martin, I know your qualities, so I’ll go in behind. If it’s open, I go, you don’t need to look, I will be there.’ He played amazing balls, and I was able to finish the action.”
Jesus also praised Bukayo Saka, who provided the other assist, and highlighted the team’s overall effort despite lineup changes. “It’s not easy when you change a lot, as we don’t play together often in games. That’s a little tricky, but at the end, we did our job and won the game.”
Reflecting on his performance, Jesus admitted that previous misses had weighed on his mind, particularly from a recent match against Monaco. “I missed two clear chances [against Monaco], obviously, I was disappointed. But I just have to keep my mind clear and strong, work like I do with coach Hussein Isa every day. He told me, ‘Look Gabby, you’re quality, just stay calm and you’ll score.’ That’s what I did today, and I’m happy to be back scoring goals.”
Jesus also shared his personal joy of announcing that his partner is expecting another baby, which he said gave him extra motivation. “It’s a special time. I had pressure on my shoulders to score today, and then I walked onto the pitch with my daughter as well, so she gave me power, a smile, everything.”
With this impressive performance, Jesus has not only boosted his confidence but also provided a much-needed spark for Arsenal’s campaign. His message to Odegaard and the team’s collective effort were key to their victory.