Arsenal celebrated their qualification to the Champions League last 16 in style as they beat Inter Milan courtesy of Gabriel Jesus and Viktor Gyokeres.
The Gunners had already received confirmation of their place in the top eight of the league phase after Manchester City’s shock defeat to Bodo/Glimt earlier in the day.
However, Jesus’ heroics continued the Gunners’ perfect record in Europe this season while also building momentum ahead of Sunday’s clash with Manchester United, a game in which Jesus has now firmly put himself in contention to start over Gyokeres before the Swede reinstated his credentials with a late strike.
Mikel Arteta made seven changes to his starting XI with the visit of Michael Carrick’s side at the weekend on the horizon, although there were starts for multiple key names including William Saliba, Eberechi Eze and Bukayo Saka.
It was Jesus though who stole the show, grabbing the initiative to give his side an early lead as he latched onto the end of Jurrien Timber’s deflected effort and poked the ball past Yann Sommer – his first Champions League goal since April 2024.
Gabriel Jesus’ double may be enough for him to earn a start against Manchester United on Sunday, live on Sky Sports
Inter levelled soon after as the visitors failed to clear their lines, allowing Petar Sucic to fire into the top corner from all of 20 yards.
Petar Sucic levelled for Inter against Arsenal with a well-taken strike
It wouldn’t be an Arsenal game without a goal from a set-piece, which came just after half an hour, as Leandro Trossard was able to head the ball back across the penalty area from a corner, giving Jesus the simple task of tapping home from close range.
Gabriel Jesus is congratulated by his team-mates after scoring his side’s second goal against Inter
Inter continued to cause Arsenal problems on the break, perhaps a positive for Carrick and United who looked so deadly on the counter-attack against Manchester City, but were unable to break the Gunners down for a second time on the night.
Sunday 25th January 4:00pm
Kick off 4:30pm
The hosts would eventually be punished as substitute Gyokeres combined with Saka before finding the top corner in what was the perfect response to Jesus’ efforts.
Viktor Gyokeres came off the bench to score Arsenal’s third goal against Inter Milan
That, and the decision surrounding whether to keep Jesus in the side is an issue for another day for Arteta, as his side made sure of a top-two finish in the league phase with a win, while Inter find themselves hanging onto a top eight place by the barest of margins.
Jesus: Me or Gyokeres? We will both score
Arsenal’s Gabriel Jesus speaking with Amazon Prime post-match:
“[It’s a] dream night. I always dreamed of being a footballer. I watched a lot of Serie A and Italian football, so to be here and play here and to score here gives tears in my eyes.
“There’s always a reason things happen. I learned that out of the 11 months. It is difficult to play Inter. We played here last season, and we lost.
“Tonight we played better than them and controlled them. They have top players and are playing at home. At the end, we scored then we got the three points. It’s an amazing feeling.
“Everyone wants to start. I’m a respectful guy. I understand the situation.
Viktor Gyokeres has scored three goals in his last three Champions League games
“I understand how football works. I was happy for Vik to score. To be a striker without a goal is always difficult.
“I have been fighting with this all of my career. I’m happy he came on and scored. I’m 100 per cent sure if one guy has the chance, he will score and help us as well.”
Arteta: ‘I couldn’t have written it better’
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Mikel Arteta praises Arsenal’s ‘hunger’ to come to the San Siro and beat Inter Milan 3-1 in the Champions League.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta speaking with Amazon Prime post-match:
“I’m very proud of the team. We needed a special performance and a very complete performance a top side and we certainly done that tonight.
“The courage, attitiude and willingness to go to another level impressed me the most. To do it in San Siro against the best team in Serie A and one of the best in Europe is something else.
“It was about being better than them. We knew the way that we had to navigate through different stages.
“They managed the game and controlled the game in a very good way. We knew that we needed to do that through the pitch and through the subs as well.
On Gabriel Jesus:
“There’s an unbelievable player. The bigger the game is, the more comfortable he plays.
“I’m so happy for him. I think he deserves the man of the match award. Not just for the goals but for all the work he has done
“We have been missing Gabby a lot. Now we have profiles in different positions. It only makes us better.”
On Jesus and Gyokeres scoring:
“If I had to write it, that would’ve been it.”
