Arsenal continued their fine form in the Premier League with a 3-1 win over West Ham United on Boxing Day. Mikel Arteta's side remain top of the table, seven points clear of second-placed Newcastle and eight points clear of Manchester City, who play Leeds United on Wednesday.
The Gunners started slowly at the Emirates Stadium, however, and trailed 1-0 at the break after a Said Benrahma penalty. Arsenal fought back and soon found their rhythm as Bukayo Saka latched onto a poor attempted shot from Martin Odegaard, with the England international burying the ball past Lukasz Fabianski to equalise.
Gabriel Martinelli quickly put the hosts ahead with a fierce shot at the near post just five minutes later before Eddie Nketiah sealed the win with a fine finish into the bottom corner just 20 minutes before the full-time whistle blew.
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The performance was perhaps even more impressive considering Gabriel Jesus did not play a part in the match. The Brazilian sustained medial ligament damage in Brazil's final World Cup group game against Cameroon and has since undergone knee surgery and could be out until March.
Jesus was pictured in a leg brace and on crutches at the Emirates Stadium on Monday night, with the striker cheering on his teammates from the stands and at one stage the sidelines. However, the 25-year-old also played a vital role in the dressing room, as revealed by Bukayo Saka.
"Of course they [Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko] are both champions so they bring that belief that we can win every game and go all the way," goalscorer Saka told Amazon Prime. "Every game they are telling us how important it is.
"Today Jesus wasn't even on the pitch but we can still feel his presence. He was speaking to me in the dressing room and the other boys, which is so important."
Nketiah scored after being called up to replace Jesus and earned praise from his fellow academy graduate. "Obviously Gabi will be a big miss but I'm so happy for Eddie," Saka said.
"We all believe in him, we just need to keep supporting him. That goal will help and everybody will be so important."
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