Central defender Gabriel Magalhaes played a pivotal role in resolving Arsenal’s recent scoring struggles, orchestrating a 5-0 triumph over Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Saturday, terminating a three-game losing streak across various competitions.
In the initial half at Emirates Stadium, Gabriel showcased his prowess, netting a header from a corner in the 11th minute and compelling an own goal from Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson through another set-piece delivery in the 37th.
The third goal materialized in the 59th minute, courtesy of Leandro Trossard’s contribution after a rapid counterattack, while substitute Gabriel Martinelli punctuated the victory with two strikingly similar goals in stoppage time. This impressive performance propelled Arsenal into the third position in the Premier League standings, surging past Aston Villa. Mikel Arteta’s squad narrowed the gap to Liverpool to a mere two points, anticipating the leader’s clash with Bournemouth on Sunday.
Arsenal’s past defeats, notably to West Ham, Fulham, and Liverpool in the FA Cup, underscored the team’s struggle to convert dominance into goals. Thus, Gabriel’s contributions brought a collective sigh of relief to the home crowd. His well-executed header from Declan Rice’s perfectly delivered corner in the 11th minute demonstrated the meticulous set-piece training that paid off.
Although Gabriel believed he secured a double with a close-range header from Bukayo Saka’s delivery, the goal was ruled an own goal as the ball ricocheted off Henderson’s head into the net.
“We work a lot on set pieces because we know the quality we have,” Gabriel stated. “Today I scored two, so we keep that going.”
Arsenal’s goalkeeper, David Raya, had a tranquil game as the hosts dictated proceedings. However, he had to make a sprawling save to thwart Jefferson Lerma’s long-range strike in the 33rd minute, a consequence of his own errant clearance.
The third goal for Arsenal emanated from a Palace corner. Raya swiftly gathered the ball and initiated a counter, releasing Gabriel Jesus. The Brazilian striker fed Trossard, who deftly maneuvered past a defender and unleashed a formidable strike into the corner.
Martinelli embellished the scoreline in the fourth minute of stoppage time, receiving a pass from Eddie Nketiah and slotting a composed finish inside the far post. A minute later, he replicated this feat, courtesy of a setup from Jorginho.
This resounding victory might quell discussions about Arsenal’s recent scoring tribulations, providing a much-needed boost.
“We knew we needed a game like that where we had a clean sheet and scored five goals,” remarked Martinelli.
Crystal Palace, stationed in 14th place and five points above the relegation zone, may face increased speculation about manager Roy Hodgson’s future following this substantial defeat, especially with the presence of former Chelsea and Brighton coach Graham Potter in the stands.