Arsenal's 5-0 Win | Gabriel Shines

 Arsenal's 5-0 Win | Gabriel Shines

Gabriel Magalhaes of Arsenal scoring the first goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Crystal Palace at Emirates Stadium on January 20, 2024 in London, United Kingdom.(Image-Getty)

In a remarkable turnaround, Arsenal halted their three-match losing streak with a resounding 5-0 victory over Crystal Palace at the Emirates Stadium, propelling them to third place in the Premier League. Central to this triumph was the standout performance by defender Gabriel, who not only scored the opening goal but also played a pivotal role in the second, both originating from set-pieces. The dominance continued with Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli adding two more goals each in the second half, intensifying the pressure on Palace manager Roy Hodgson.

Mikel Arteta's strategic adjustments were evident, making three changes from the New Year's Eve defeat, including the return of Gabriel Jesus, Trossard, and Oleksandr Zinchenko. On the other side, Hodgson introduced Will Hughes and Jeffrey Schlupp for Jordan Ayew and Michael Olise.

Arsenal's early brilliance materialized in the 11th minute when Gabriel rose to head home Declan Rice's corner, marking their ninth Premier League goal from corners and the 10th headed goal – a league-leading statistic. A subsequent set-piece nearly doubled the lead as the ball rebounded off Palace's Lerma, striking the bar.

Palace had moments of threat, with Lerma testing Arsenal's goalkeeper David Raya with a powerful long-range shot. However, Gabriel once again played a crucial role, doubling Arsenal's lead in the 37th minute with a header from Saka's corner.

The third goal came just before the hour mark as Trossard capitalized on a swift counter-attack that unfolded in a mere 10 seconds. The ball transitioned from Raya to Jesus and, finally, to Trossard, who skillfully evaded Richards before slotting past Henderson.

As substitutions ensued, Rice departed the field due to muscle tightness. Substitute Martinelli then sealed the victory with two near-identical goals in stoppage time, both originating from counter-attacks.

The win elevated Arsenal to third place with 43 points, level with Manchester City and two points behind leaders Liverpool. Conversely, Palace's struggles persisted, accumulating only five points from their last 10 matches, leaving them in 14th place with 21 points, just five above the relegation zone.

Key facts highlighted Gabriel's impressive goal-scoring record, Arsenal's recent dominance over Palace, and Martinelli's milestone 200th substitute goal in the Premier League – a feat achieved by only two other clubs, Manchester United and Chelsea.