I’LL BE MIKEL’S Jesus returns at double then
GABRIEL JESUS claimed the title race could go down to goal difference – and he is ready to play his part after ending his six-month scoring drought. Mikel Arteta revealed the Brazil star was clapped into the dressing room by his team-mates after netting two goals in his first Premier League start since theworld Cup.
Arsenal responded magnificently to Manchester City’s thrashing of Liverpool earlier in the day with the same scoreline to re-establish their eight-point lead at the top of the table – with Arteta recording his 100th win as Gunners boss.
And Jesus said he now wants more goals after ending his 17-game run without a goal.
“I want to score every game,” said the £45million summer signing from City. “But sometimes it can’t happen. I am more happy with the three points than the goals.
“We said before the game not to look at goal difference and focus on the points. But sometimes you have to try and score more as it might matter at the end of the season.”
Arteta, who has carefully nursed Jesus back to action after his December knee surgery, said: “I am delighted for him.we all are – we are clapping him in.
‘‘He has been working so hard for the last four or five months with the support of the team and the staff. Today he deserved his chance to start and he grabbed the chance with a lot of conviction and two great goals.”
Arteta added: “I told the players to just enjoy the moment that we are in. We have nine games to go. I enjoy the games – more now than before.”
The Arsenal fans were nervous in before the relief of the opening goal. Leeds were compact defensively but had pace up front to worry Arsenal on the counter-attack and Rasmus Kristensen, Crysencio Summerville and Jack Harrison all forced Aaron Ramsdale into saves before a penalty changed the game.
Jesus skipped around Kristensen before Leeds skipper Luke Ayling’s poor challenge caught the Brazilian. Jesus sidefooted home the spot kick and said: “Zini (Oleksandr Zinchenko) joked with me yesterday, because we were practising penalties and I just took that one like I always do, stopping. He said: ‘In the game, you never do it like this.’
“So I showed him clips. I was calm and I remember him as well.”
Former Arsenal trainee Ayling was again at fault for the second goal just two minutes after the break.
Gabriel Martinelli got past him too easily and his low cross was converted off the bar by the unmarked Ben White.
Then after 55 minutes Leandro Trossard crossed for Jesus to tap home his second.
Jesus was then replaced by Bukayo Saka, who did not start after feeling “unwell”.
Kristensen scored for Leeds when his shot from the edge of the box deflected in off Zinchenko. But Martin Odegaard picked out Granit Xhaka, who headed Arsenal’s fourth.
Leeds manager Javi Gracia was already looking forward to facing Nottingham Forest on Tuesday after his side slipped to just a point off the drop zone.
He said: “The game changed when we conceded that second goal early in the second half.
“From that moment the game was very, very tough for us.
‘‘But we are playing again in just three days’ time so we have no time to complain.”
different. It’s difficult to understand. We were so sloppy and it’s our fault.”
It’s hard to argue with that assessment after the visitors were torn apart in the second period.
And the way Cherries boss Gary O’neil celebrated a second home win on the bounce at the final whistle underlined its importance on the Dorset coast.
The result catapulted the hosts from 19th to 15th in the relegation battle and jubilant O’neil said: “We were desperate to get them in at half-time to fix a few things. The players knew they’d been poor. To come back in what was becoming a flat, grumbly stadium showed great determination. We have the belief and that refusal to lose.”
Fulham were on the front foot from the start. Manor Solomon escaped offside by a whisker and fed Harrison Reed, who opted to pass rather than shoot.
Good idea – as it set up Pereira’s ruthless 10-yard finish. Moments later, a rasping strike from Antonee Robinson crashed against the bar.
That reprieve woke up the Cherries, belatedly, and on the half-hour Dango Ouattara shot wide of a gaping net.
Pereira then wasted a glorious opening when he went for a spectacular bicycle kick rather than control and score.
Silva held his head in his hands and five minutes into the second half his outfit were pegged back as Tavernier nipped in off the right to unleash a left-foot missile into the far corner.
There was only going to be one winner after that and Bournemouth deservedly took the honours on 79 minutes when Solanke bundled in off Robinson. BOURNEMOUTH: Neto 6, Smith 6, Stephens 6, Senesi 6, Kelly 6, Ouattara 5 (Christie 46, 6), Rothwell 6, Lerma 6, Anthony 6 (Tavernier 46, 8), Billing 7, Solanke 7 (Semenyo 90, 5).
FULHAM: Leno 6, Tete 6 (Soares 81, 6) Diop 6, Ream 6, Robinson 6, Reed 7 (Cairney 68, 6), Palhinha 6 (Wilson 87, 6), Decordova-reid 6 (James 68, 6), Pereira 7 (Lukic 81, 6), Solomon 7, Morais 6.
MAN OF THE MATCH: MARCUS TAVERNIER – Supersub inspired brilliant comeback with screamer and assist.
REF: P Bankes ATT: 10,305