Mikel Arteta says Gabriel Jesus' big week "has to be" a turning point for the forward after two brilliant performances against Crystal Palace.

The Brazilian forward backed up his Carabao Cup quarter-final hat-trick against the Eagles with a double inside the first 14 minutes during the Premier League rematch on Saturday.

"It has to be," said Arteta when asked if this is a big moment in Jesus' Arsenal career. "We have to push him and let him go and be behind him.

"He’s had some difficult moments and as a striker that’s not easy because you get a lot of spotlight.

"But credit to him as well because his work ethic, the way he came back in the summer he was a completely different player. Now he’s being rewarded. Sometimes it takes time.

"That’s the beauty of football. Things change. I think he scored the same amount in three days as in 45 appearances and he could have scored a hattrick again.

"Great credit to him because he’s put so much work and belief in to what he does. He was patient and he got rewarded."

Asked what the Arsenal manager said to Jesus when he was not the first-choice forward, Arteta replied: "You have to prepare for your opportunity, that's it.

"If you fail to prepare then it's not going to happen. That's clear.

"You want it, you want it early and sometimes it's not going to happen and you don't see the rewards.

"It's like going to the gym and looking in the mirror after one week or one month.

"Sometimes it needs more time and suddenly everybody is saying you look much better, you're looking healthier and now good things happen so I think it's a good example to understand what Gabi has done."