Arsenal 3-2 Crystal Palace: John Southall on Gabriel Jesus

BBC Radio 5 Live reporter John Southall says the fine hat-trick scored by Gabriel Jesus in Wednesday’s Carabao Cup quarter-final win over Crystal Palace will “do a lot for him”.

The Brazil striker has faced criticism after struggling for goals this season. However, after finding the net at Emirates Stadium for the first time in a year in the second half, he went on to claim the match ball.

“People don’t see what Jesus does when he doesn’t score goals,” Southall told BBC Radio 5 Live’s Football Daily podcast. “I think he’d also admit he hasn’t started as many games as he would like. He has been injured as well, but he does need to score more.

“Before Wednesday night, it was one goal in 33 games, which is not enough. I know he has only come on for a few minutes in some of those matches but he is a centre-forward and should be scoring more.

“The hat-trick against Palace will do a lot for him. It will be interesting to see if he starts against the Eagles again on Saturday.

“It was a great hat-trick. The first one was a lovely dinked finish, the second smashed into the corner from the right of the area, and the third a run from the halfway line where he kept his composure and finished brilliantly.

“We have talked a lot about Arsenal centre-forwards – well there is your Arsenal centre forward. Now, can he do it in the next game?”

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds