Does this mean Arsenal don't need a new striker?
Your number 9 scoring a hat-trick in Arsenal's 3-2 win over Crystal Palace just in time for Christmas is the perfect antidote when your attack is in doubt.
Arsenal's recent laxity in open play and their reliance on set pieces brought to the fore the now annual debate over whether a new striker is needed in January. So what if Gabriel Jesus looks in the groove, at least for half the football?
Arsenal and Jesus proved in that second half that their problem is not a 'striker' problem. Many claimed that the Gunners needed a striker last January and they ended up scoring 91 goals in the Premier League, the most in their history in the competition.
What Arsenal have proven – and needs to be addressed – is a dependence on Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard. It is more of a creativity problem than a peak problem.
Mikel Arteta's side hardly looked likely to score until the two came on in separate substitutions and Jesus provided crisp assists within minutes of arriving on the pitch.
So whether it's improving the left winger position or getting better understudies for Saka and Odegaard – Leandro Trossard and Raheem Sterling failed to impress, but Ethan Nwaneri looked promising – that's where Arsenal's focus must be on if they want to move in January. Sam Blitz
Palace are looking forward to Saturday's rematch
Crystal Palace was in the race for the cup for at least 54 minutes. Until Jesus scored the equalizer, Oliver Glasner would have beamed at how aggressively and diligently his team was organized.
That was evident after just four minutes of the opening goal, when Jean-Phillipe Mateta chewed and spat out Jakub Kiwior as they battled for a 50-50 ball from Dean Henderson before the striker kept his cool in front of goal. We shouldn't be surprised by Mateta's deadly finishing now.
It is now 25 goals in his last 35 starts for club and country. Any striker, apart from Erling Haaland, at the highest level would bite your hand off for such a return. Palace couldn't quite keep up their courage from possession as Arsenal eventually pushed their way through. But back at Selhurst Park on Saturday, facing the same opponents live on Sky Sports, this Palace team certainly have the game plan and aggression to make things difficult for the Gunners again. This time, however, they will have to do it for 90 minutes.Lewis Jones
Elliott shines in Liverpool win
On his first start since May, Harvey Elliott starred in Liverpool's 2-1 Carabao Cup quarter-final win at Southampton.
The midfielder scored what turned out to be the winning goal with a clinical low finish in the first half.
Even at the age of 21, Elliott was one of the more experienced players in a youthful team and led by example in midfield.
The Englishman completed the most passes in the final third (21) of the match as he put in a player-of-the-match performance.
“He's been excellent,” said Sky Sports' Don Goodman. “Not just the goal, his all-round work ethic with and without the ball. An excellent game.”
Now Elliott hopes his performances can earn him a starting spot in the Premier League so he can become more of a regular under Arne Slot. Declan Olley
Defense First: A Sign of Things to Come for Struggling Saints?
The plan was clear to everyone from the start when Liverpool came to St Mary's for the second time in a month: stay compact, with rigid benches of five and four, frustrate Liverpool, hit them on the counter when the openings present themselves and hope for the best.
Under Russell Martin, Southampton liked to dominate the ball. But with little success – and ultimately his sacking just a few days ago – his interim replacement Simon Rusk knew this wouldn't work, especially against arguably one of the best teams in the world right now.
For more than twenty minutes, Liverpool attacked and attacked but were kept at bay. When the pumping went on for a long time, the fans responded with cheers. Later there were courageous blocks that kept the final result respectable.
Saints fans had seen their team leak goals that are no one's business of late – 11 in the last three Premier League games, in fact – and it was very well received to see the defensive vulnerability disappear, even if only slightly.
Is it a sign of things to come? It is difficult to say for sure until Martin's permanent replacement is appointed. If they play similarly in the Premier League, they may be just at the beginning of a bid for survival.Dan Long
Great Tonali sets the tone for Toon
If Sandro Tonali is unhappy at Newcastle, he certainly doesn't look like it.
The Italian midfielder appears to be finally living up to expectations and price tag at St James's Park, with his brilliance proving the difference in the Magpies' 3-1 win over Brentford.
The first goal was exceptional, the purest goal that showed the technique he has at his disposal. His reaction and celebration show the bond he has built with the Toon supporters – who emphatically supported him during his suspension last season.
The second, the product of a well-worked corner routine, showed his intelligence and spatial awareness. Away from the goals, he and Bruno Guimaraes dominated in the middle of the park. It feels like a special collaboration is developing between the two.
If it wasn't his best performance in a Newcastle shirt, it was certainly his most impactful. His quality steered the game in their direction. If he could become the man to steer the club to that long-awaited trophy, he will never be forgotten in the city.Simeon Gholam
Schedule catches up with Brentford
“It's about finding the right balance in a tight week where we want to perform at our best in all three games.” That was Thomas Frank's explanation in advance for making so many changes to the team that played against Chelsea on Sunday. Did he understand correctly?
Brentford are back in action against Nottingham Forest on Saturday, so the frustration is understandable. “I said very clearly that I don't think we had the optimal schedule, but it is what it is. I am fully convinced that this team can compete,” he said.
Tellingly, Frank added: “And by the way, a game lasts over 90 minutes and not 60.” The problem was that by the time the Brentford boss turned to substitutes Bryan Mbeumo and Mikkel Damsgaard, Tonali had already put Newcastle two goals ahead.
Damsgaard was a real shining spark in the final half hour of the match, releasing Mbeumo to set up Yoane Wissa for Brentford's consolation goal. Mbeumo's beautiful pass had cut the defense wide open and moments earlier created a chance for Wissa.
Would it have made a difference if Frank could have started the trio? The Bees boss would point to the example of Ethan Pinnock, who was asked to start again but had to retire early with a hamstring problem. Something had to give. It was Brentford's hope for the cup. Adam Bate
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