Hat-trick hero: Gabriel Jesus has now scored seven goals for Arsenal in pre-season
(Picture: PA)Gabriel Jesus notched a hat-trick on his home debut as superb Arsenal thrashed Sevilla 6-0 to win the Emirates Cup and further heighten excitement and expectation for the new Premier League season.
The Gunners’ new No9, a £45million summer arrival from Manchester City, took his pre-season tally in red and white to a hugely impressive seven goals in five matches with another brilliant display in front of the home fans in north London on an emotional day that saw heartfelt tributes paid to Jose Antonio Reyes and the late Terry Neill.
Devastating Arsenal blew away their overawed Spanish opponents - some way behind their hosts in terms of their pre-season preparations - in a hopelessly one-sided first half, with Bukayo Saka and Jesus both notching braces in the space of just nine minutes.
Saka started the early blitz from the penalty spot after being barged over inside the box by Karim Rekik, with Jesus then firing in from close range after combining with Granit Xhaka down the left-hand flank.
The red-hot Jesus then netted his second goal in 60 seconds, sliding in at the back post after being picked out by electric compatriot Gabriel Martinelli.
Sevilla, who challenged for the title last season before fading and eventually finishing fourth, were utterly shellshocked and things only got worse as Arsenal’s relentless tempo, energy and high pressing forced a blunder from LaLiga’s reigning goalkeeper of the year Yassine Bounou, who then let Saka’s shot go straight through him.
Ruthless Arsenal, who confirmed the appointment of the 23-year-old Martin Odegaard as their new captain earlier in the day, were not merely content with a 4-0 half-time scoreline, with Jesus completing his treble late on after Gabriel’s effort was somehow cleared off the line by Bounou.
Substitute Eddie Nketiah slammed into an empty net two minutes from time to complete the rout after being unselfishly teed up by Martinelli.
Arsenal complete an impressive pre-season campaign with five victories from six games, with the only minor blot on their copybook coming with a behind-closed-doors defeat by Brentford in midweek in which they fielded a heavily weakened team.
Arteta’s men, pipped to a Champions League return on the final day of last season by north London rivals Tottenham, look more than ready to hit the ground running when they open the new top-flight campaign against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Friday night.
