Mikel Arteta drops major Arsenal selection hint ahead of Carabao Cup clash with Crystal Palace

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·22. Dezember 2025

Mikel Arteta drops major Arsenal selection hint ahead of Carabao Cup clash with Crystal Palace

Gabriel Jesus is expected to be handed his first start since January

Mikel Arteta has suggested he is ready to unleash Gabriel Jesus on Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup.

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The Brazilian has not started a match since January, when he suffered an ACL injury, but has looked bright in three recent cameos off the bench.

Arsenal host Palace on Tuesday night with a semi-final tie against Chelsea the prize on offer.

Asked if Jesus was ready to start in the last-eight clash, Arteta responded firmly: "Yes, he is. You can see now, not only on games, every day in training how much he wants it. He's going to deserve a chance soon."

Jesus has good memories of taking on Palace, having scored five times in the space of a week against them last season.

Jesus celebrates after scoring against Crystal Palace in December 2024

AP

The 28-year-old netted a hat-trick in the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup before then scoring a brace in a 5-1 Premier League win just a few days later.

There has been plenty of attention on Arsenal's forward options since Jesus returned from injury.

Viktor Gyokeres is still adapting to life at the Gunners and has not yet hit top form, whereas Jesus has come straight back into the side and looked very much in form.

In the win over Everton on Saturday, most of Arsenal's most fluid football came in the final 25 minutes once Jesus had been introduced.

"I think that's probably the biggest quality of Gabi, bringing people together, connecting with people and generating a lot of uncertainty in the opponent," Arteta said.

"When you see him today, the amount of spaces that he was involved in, that's his biggest quality. So we need to exploit that."

Should Jesus feature on Tuesday night, it will be his 100th appearance in an Arsenal shirt.

Viktor Gyokeres celebrates after scoring a penalty against Everton

REUTERS

His arrival from Manchester City in 2022 helped spark Arsenal's first serious push for the title under Arteta, who said the Brazilian "changed our world".

"Well it's been a really intense journey," Arteta said.

"I would say. I think when he joined us, I think he lifted the belief, the spirit and the energy of the club and the team. I think he gave something very different to what we already had, and it was really impressive.

"And then he had some very bad injuries that hasn't allowed him to have the consistency that we need from a very important player. But he's back, I think his fighting spirit, he's decided to always prepare the best way.

"He's unbelievable and the team has got it now and we need to use it."