Gabriel Jesus sends clear message to Mikel Arteta as Kieran Tierney proves a point

Jesus is back

For a while it looked as though we were witnessing the slow death of Gabriel Jesus’ Arsenal career. Once again the Brazilian was toiling in the first half, looking like he didn’t believe he would be a goal threat.

It is Christmas though. In a timely fashion for the headline writers around the country, in the second half Jesus was risen.

The Brazilian’s opening goal felt like pure instinct. He received Martin Odegaard’s pass with his back to play, and with a little help from Maxence Lacroix, rolled the defender before dinking over Dean Henderson. He nearly repeated the feat moments later, but Henderson made a fine save.

Then he was played through by Bukayo Saka, and wouldn’t have been human if images of last week’s missed one-vs-ones against Monaco popped into his mind. Jesus finished with precision. Mikel Arteta spoke of a snowball effect in the team when it comes to winning trophies before the game. Jesus, though, had one of his own as he finished superbly on the break when set through by Odegaard with 10 minutes to go. It seems that the Brazilian is back.

“The movement, the quality of his touches, the way he finished the actions, it’s a big, big thing for him and the team,” Arteta said after the game. “It is a big message for the team that we have got Gabi back at his best.”

This could be a real game changer going forward. The Gunners have lacked much attacking threat off the bench in recent weeks and don’t look likely to sign a forward in January after Arteta admitted he expects a quiet window.

But with Jesus fit and firing the old cliche is that he could be like a new signing. Arsenal could certainly do with the help up top.

Overlapping full-backs work

This might be the last time we see Kieran Tierney at the Emirates Stadium. The way he applauded all 60,000 fans on his two step walk to the sideline felt like a farewell. But should it be?

For the first time in months Arsenal had an overlapping full-back in their team. Mikel Arteta admitted that he had learnt from asking Tierney to invert two seasons ago. Against Palace the Scottish international was simply told to play his game.

He was more than happy to oblige, whipping in crosses at the very sniff of an opening down the left flank. The result may shock you, but Arsenal actually had more of a threat in the box. In the first half Tierney had a decent shout for a handball by Trevor Chalobah. In the second the Scot should have grabbed an assist on his return - Raheem Sterling somehow managing to turn on to the bar from a yard out.

The threat is such a stark contrast from the past couple of matches against Fulham and Everton where Jurrien Timber has been played at left back. The Dutchman provides defensive solidity as an inverter, but Arsenal lack the attacking threat that a Tierney has. Even Arteta was ready to admit to this to an extent after the game.

“It’s just playing each player in their strengths,” he said in his post-match press conference. “That’s something that we have to continue to learn. Players give you a lot of information. They tell you, not so much by talking, but with a lot of information where they feel more comfortable. Certainly there is a much better fit for him.”

Tierney is set to leave Arsenal rain or shine at the end of the season after the club chose not to take up the option to extend his contract. But if he does stay beyond January the Scottish international has proved that he has a role to play. It’s up to Arteta to use him.

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