Forget Rice…’Lovely’ Arsenal player with 5 key passes was Arteta’s hero v Luton
Arsenal strengthened their leading position in the Premier League by securing a thrilling 4-3 triumph against Luton Town, with Declan Rice delivering a decisive last-minute goal.
Since joining Arsenal from West Ham during the summer, Rice has arguably stood out as the team’s top performer.
Once again, he proved his worth by scoring a crucial header to complete an impressive comeback and secure the victory.’
While the English standout has received much praise for his contribution to the win, it could be argued that Gabriel Jesus emerged as the standout and most crucial player for Mikel Arteta in a challenging match set in a hostile atmosphere.
Gabriel Jesus starred in Arsenal’s victory over Luton
At Kenilworth Road, the Brazilian delivered an exceptional performance, elevating Arsenal to a 2-1 lead with a remarkable header and then facilitating Kai Havertz’s equalizer at 3-3 with a skillful pass.
His offensive contributions were noteworthy, firing three shots on goal, completing two successful dribbles, and making an impressive five key passes, in addition to his goal and assist. Notably, he led the frontline with excellence, showcasing a complete performance throughout the entire 90 minutes.
The Evening Standard awarded Jesus a rating of 8/10 as Arsenal’s standout player, emphasizing his pivotal role in Havertz’s goal as a highlight moment.
“Put Arsenal ahead with a poacher’s finish at the back post. Was involved in a battle all game with Luton’s centre-backs, but held his own. Set up Arsenal’s third with a lovely assist.”
Football.London praised Jesus as “key” to Arsenal’s triumph, assigning him an impressive 9/10 rating.
While Eddie Nketiah and Leandro Trossard performed admirably in Jesus’s absence due to injury, it’s evident that the Brazilian brings a different level of performance to the frontline. His impact extends beyond goal-scoring, as demonstrated by his well-timed run leading to an easy header in the first half. Moreover, Jesus plays a crucial role in elevating the performance of Arsenal’s other attackers.
Kai Havertz, in particular, has experienced a notable improvement, scoring three times in the last four games after an initial struggle to settle. Jesus’s presence upfront has been instrumental in this transformation.
The Brazilian not only scored but also provided assists for two of the three goals, signaling the development of a promising partnership.
With Jesus surpassing Eric Cantona in the Premier League scoring charts, his fitness becomes a key factor for the rest of the season. If he can maintain his form and stay injury-free, he is poised to play a pivotal role as Arsenal strives to contend for the title, aiming to recover from last season’s setback.
Forget Rice…’Lovely’ Arsenal player with 5 key passes was Arteta’s hero v Luton