<span class="link"><a href="#">Now, <em>that</em> is a spicy guacamole <span>🥑</span></a></span>

span a {
  color: #007db5;
}

a:hover {
  background: linear-gradient(90deg, #ff8a00, #e52e71);
  -webkit-background-clip: text;
  -webkit-box-decoration-break: clone;
  -webkit-text-fill-color: transparent;
  box-decoration-break: clone;
  text-shadow: none;
}

a > span {
  -webkit-text-fill-color: initial;
}

/* PRESENTATIONAL STYLES */
body {
  align-items: center;
  display: grid;
  font-size: 2rem;
  height: 100vh;
  justify-content: center;
}