Mission accomplished for Arsenal. A seventh win out of seven ensured Mikel Arteta’s side will head straight into the last 16 of this competition as one of the two top seeds after Gabriel Jesus scored twice – including their 19th goal of the season from a corner – to see off last year’s beaten finalists.
It means that as well as getting one back over an Inter team that they lost to 14 months ago, Arsenal have surpassed their longest winning streak at this level. While Manchester City’s surprise defeat in Norway in the earlier kick-off had removed any jeopardy about them progressing, this was more evidence of the ruthless streak Arsenal have developed under Arteta. The only blot on the copybook in a fourth successive away game in four different competitions was Petar Sucic’s equaliser in the first half after Jesus had given Arsenal an early lead, although this was all about the Brazil striker even after the substitute Viktor Gyökeres sealed the points late on with a classy finish.
Having just returned from 11 months out with an anterior cruciate ligament injury, Jesus said on Tuesday that he wanted to fulfil his ambition of winning trophies with Arsenal. With his team seven points clear at the top of the Premier League and still in both domestic cup competitions, he will never get a better opportunity.
“It’s a dream night,” said an emotional Jesus. “When I was a kid. I watched a lot of Serie A, so to be here in this stadium and score here – I had tears in my eyes because I always dreamed of being here.”
Arteta was also full of praise for the 28-year-old and hopes the competition between him, Gyökeres and the returning Kai Havertz to start up front can inspire them to end the season with silverware.
“We’ve been missing Gabi a lot,” he added. “I think he’s going to raise confidence levels in the teams because we now have different profiles in that position, like we have with the wingers in other positions. And the fact that those players are playing at that level gives the team a great impact as well in the game. It will only make us better.”
Arsenal’s defeat by Inter in the group stages last year was still on Arteta’s mind in the buildup to this match, with a controversial penalty awarded against Mikel Merino proving decisive on that occasion. Despite the temptation to go strong in a bid to gain some revenge, he made seven changes to the side that drew with Nottingham Forest but still saw his players produce one of their most impressive performances of the season.
Manuel Akanji had questioned whether Arsenal could be considered the best team in Europe beforehand, with the former City defender suggesting Bayern Munich are the team to beat this year. He may feel differently after the Serie A leaders were given a torrid time by Jesus and the outstanding Bukayo Saka.
This grand old stadium is due to be demolished after Inter and their neighbours, Milan, purchased it from the city council in November and there was a cauldron of noise to greet the teams before kick-off. But it was Arsenal who seized the initiative immediately. Jesus was inches away from connecting with Jurriën Timber’s cross in the second minute and it was the same combination that found the breakthrough. Eberechi Eze’s pass into the penalty area was deflected into Timber’s path and his scuffed shot was diverted in by the alert Jesus, who was being played onside by Luis Henrique.
Inter were level within eight minutes after William Saliba blocked a goal‑bound shot and it fell perfectly into the path of Sucic, whose strike took a tiny deflection off Martín Zubimendi’s heel to give David Raya no chance. Incredibly it was only the second time they have conceded in this year’s competition. Yet parity did not last for long. Arsenal went back in front when Leandro Trossard headed Saka’s corner against the crossbar and Jesus was on hand to snaffle the rebound.
The home supporters felt they should have been awarded a penalty in the second half when Lautaro Martínez went down in the box under pressure from Saliba but the Portuguese referee was not interested. Compared with previous seasons, Saka has been rested far more in this campaign due to concerns over his workload and the benefits have been clear to see in recent weeks. A brilliant cross from the England forward picked out Trossard, only for his volley back across goal to miss the target.
Saka was guilty of dallying when put clean through by Jesus and a last-ditch tackle from Alessandro Bastoni saved Inter. The substitute Pio Esposito almost made them pay when he found space inside the Arsenal area as Inter tried to step up the pressure. However it was Gyökeres who made sure of the victory when he latched on to a long ball from Gabriel Martinelli and beat Yann Sommer from outside the area to send an ominous warning to the rest of Europe.
