Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus turned recent criticisms to praise after netting a hat-trick in the Carabao Cup quarter-final London derby against Crystal Palace.
The 27-year-old had gone eight games without netting, as he scored thrice in a dominant second half as the Gunners came from a goal down to win 3-2.
Jesus, who gestured with his celebrations the confirmation of his partner expecting another baby, put in a clinical display.
“It feels amazing,” he said to club media after the game.
“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.”
“The quality that Martin has is amazing,” he added, speaking about captain Odegaard.
“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 [in behind] 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.”
