Gabriel Jesus was the hat-trick hero for Arsenal against Crystal Palace on Wednesday night and it came after a simple message to Martin Odegaard.
The Brazilian has had a frustrating season so far, yet to score in the Premier League, but he was in the starting XI for the Carabao Cup quarter-final clash with the Eagles.
Things were not going well for the Gunners after falling behind early on and going into half-time 1-0 behind to a Jean-Philippe Mateta goal.
Odegaard was introduced at the break, though, and helped turn the tide, providing two assists for Jesus on the way to a 3-2 victory
The former Manchester City forward told the Norwegian exactly what to do when he arrived on the pitch and it worked perfectly.
‘Obviously the first half wasn’t our best, but still in the second half we did our job, we created more, we kept the ball more, circulated the ball, made passes and then Martin put in two amazing balls in the end and B [Bukayo Saka] as well, and I could finish the action,’ said Jesus, also praising Saka who got the other assist.
‘The quality that Martin has is amazing. He’s a type of a player that can pass these balls and put you in front of the goal.
‘That’s what I was telling him; I said “Martin I know your qualities, so I’ll go in behind. If it’s open, I go, you don’t need to look, I will be there.” He played amazing balls and I was able to finish the action.
‘B as well, but I think everyone today tried their best, it’s not easy when you change a lot, normally we don’t play together a lot in the games, and that’s a little bit tricky. At the end we did our job and won the game.’
It was a brilliant night for Jesus as he scored his first goals since October, but also celebrated the news that his partner is pregnant again, which he had announced just a day earlier.
‘It’s a special time,’ he said. ‘I had pressure on my shoulders to score today, and then I walked onto the pitch with my daughter as well, so she gave me power, a smile, everything.
‘Then I could score goals and celebrate with my family, and dedicate [my goals] to another baby.’
Mikel Arteta said of his striker’s brilliant return to goal-scoring form: ‘So pleased for him, it’s been a long period for him without goals and today to score three goals, the three type of goals he scored tonight as well and many actions he was involved, he looked really sharp.
‘I think it’s a great thing for him, great thing for the team that we can rely on a player with such a quality.’
Arsenal will be in the draw for the semi-finals on Thursday night with Liverpool, Newcastle and either Manchester United or Tottenham.