Gabriel Jesus bagged a second-half hat trick as Arsenal came from behind to beat Crystal Palace 3-2 and move into the Carabao Cup semifinals at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday.
Palace had Arsenal reeling in the fourth minute when Jean-Philippe Mateta nudged aside Gunners defender Jakub Kiwior to latch onto a long ball and side-foot home.
But Arsenal thoroughly dominated the second half and Jesus equalised in the 54th minute when Martin Ødegaard sent a beautiful through ball into the box and the Brazil international chipped the ball over Dean Henderson.
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Jesus netted his second in the 73rd minute when Bukayo Saka slipped the ball through for him to hammer home. He completed his hat trick eight minutes later when he ran onto a ball from Ødegaard behind Palace’s back line before firing past Henderson.
“So pleased for [Jesus]. It’s been a long period for him without goals,” Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta told reporters. “To score the three types of goals and the many actions that he was involved in, it’s a great thing for the team that we can rely on a player with such quality.”
Former Arsenal player Eddie Nketiah pulled one back for Palace late on when he leapt high to head home past David Raya.
In the other quarterfinal matches, holders Liverpool booked their berth in the semi-inals with a 2-1 victory over Southampton at St Mary’s Stadium, thanks to goals from Darwin Núñez and Harvey Elliott.
Nunez, who had been goaded by Saints fans earlier in the game for a wild miss, got on the scoresheet in the 24th minute, pouncing after a mis-kick by centre back Jan Bednarek.
Elliott doubled the Reds’ lead eight minutes later when he unleashed a low, hard shot from Cody Gakpo’s pass. Cameron Archer pulled one back for the home side in the 59th minute with a curling shot from just inside the box.
At St James’ Park, Tonali scored in the ninth minute when Nathan Collins’ attempted clearance fell at his feet and he unleashed a rocket from 20 yards out — his first goal since his return in late-August from a 10-month ban for breaching betting rules.
Tonali volleyed home Anthony Gordon’s cross from near the penalty spot just before the break for his second goal, and Newcastle tripled their lead when Bruno Guimarães sent a pass across the goal for Fabian Schär to tap home in the 69th minute.
Yoane Wissa pulled one back for Brentford in injury time but the game was well out of reach by then.
The last semifinal place is up for grabs on Thursday when Tottenham Hotspur host Manchester United.
