Gabriel Jesus Brace Leads Arsenal Past Inter Milan

The Champions League never fails to deliver drama, but few expected the spectacle that unfolded at San Siro on January 20, 2026. Arsenal, already assured of a top-eight finish and a spot in the knockout rounds, traveled to face Inter Milan in a match heavy with implications for the Italian giants. By the final whistle, it was the Gunners who left Milan with a resounding 3-1 victory, sending a message to the rest of Europe while Inter’s continental ambitions took a serious hit.

Heading into the clash, the stakes could hardly have been higher for Cristian Chivu’s Inter side. After a dream start to their campaign, with wins over Ajax, Slavia Prague, Royale Union Saint-Gilloise, and Kairat Almaty, Inter’s momentum had evaporated. Back-to-back defeats to Atletico Madrid and Liverpool left them teetering on the brink, with Barcelona just two points behind in the group standings. Anything less than a win against Arsenal threatened to throw their last-16 hopes into chaos.

Arsenal, meanwhile, arrived in Milan in imperious form. Mikel Arteta’s men had won every group stage game up to this point—six out of six—and were also leading the Premier League. Their defense had been nearly impenetrable in Europe, conceding just one goal before this trip. But there was no sense of complacency from the visitors. Memories of last season’s narrow 1-0 defeat in this very stadium lingered, and Arsenal were out to prove their credentials as genuine Champions League contenders.

Despite the comfort of qualification, Arteta fielded a strong lineup. Kai Havertz returned from injury but started on the bench, with Gabriel Jesus leading the line and Viktor Gyokeres also getting the nod. For Inter, the absence of star midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu through injury was a blow, compounded by the continued unavailability of Denzel Dumfries, Raffaele Di Gennaro, and Tomas Palacios. Chivu’s starting eleven leaned on experience and the firepower of Lautaro Martinez, who had 15 goals in all competitions this season but was still searching for a breakthrough against top-tier opposition.

The match began at a frantic pace, befitting the occasion and the storied setting of San Siro. Inter, desperate to avoid a third straight Champions League defeat—a fate not suffered since 2011—pressed high and looked to exploit Arsenal’s defense. But it was the visitors who struck first. In the 17th minute, Arsenal’s set-piece prowess, which had yielded 28 goals in all competitions this season, paid off again. Leandro Trossard whipped in a corner, and Gabriel Jesus rose above the defense to power home a header, silencing the home crowd.

Inter responded with urgency, roared on by their supporters. Martinez, so often the talisman, came close with a sharp turn and shot, but Arsenal keeper David Raya was equal to it. The Nerazzurri’s frustration grew as Arsenal’s defensive discipline and quick transitions repeatedly stymied their attacks. The Gunners’ back four, marshaled by William Saliba and new signing Mosquera, proved a formidable barrier.

Just before halftime, Arsenal doubled their advantage. Viktor Gyokeres, who had been criticized for inconsistent form, latched onto a clever through ball from Martinelli and slotted calmly past Yann Sommer. The goal was Gyokeres’s eighth in 26 appearances, and it left Inter with a mountain to climb. The half ended with the visitors in control and Inter’s Champions League campaign in jeopardy.

After the break, Chivu urged his side forward, and for a brief spell, Inter looked capable of mounting a comeback. Their 18-game unbeaten home run in the Champions League had been snapped recently by Liverpool, but the hosts drew on that proud record, pushing Arsenal deeper. Their efforts paid off in the 58th minute, when Marcus Thuram bundled the ball over the line following a scramble in the box. The San Siro erupted—Inter were back in it, and the momentum seemed to be shifting.

But Arsenal’s response was swift and decisive. Within ten minutes, they restored their two-goal cushion. A flowing move down the right saw Noni Madueke cut inside and fire a low cross into the area. Gabriel Jesus, alive to the opportunity, pounced to score his second of the night. It was a landmark moment for the Brazilian, who now had two goals and an assist since returning from injury in December. Arteta’s faith in his striker had paid off handsomely.

Inter’s attempts to claw their way back were hampered by a lack of cutting edge in the final third. Lautaro Martinez, despite his impressive goal tally this season, continued to struggle against elite opposition. With Calhanoglu’s creativity missing in midfield, the Nerazzurri found it difficult to break down Arsenal’s organized defense. As the minutes ticked away, frustration boiled over in the stands and on the pitch. Chivu’s wait for a signature ‘big game’ victory continued.

For Arsenal, the win was more than just another three points. It was a statement of intent—a signal that this team, so often accused of faltering on the biggest stage, now had the steel and quality to go deep in Europe. “Arsenal are making a very strong argument for being the best team in Europe,” wrote Pardeep Cattry, capturing the mood among pundits and fans alike. The Gunners had not won on Italian soil since 2008, but this performance suggested that old narratives no longer applied.

Elsewhere in the Champions League, the night was filled with shocks and subplots. Sporting CP stunned PSG thanks to a brace from Luis Suarez (not that one), while Real Madrid thumped Monaco 6-1 with Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior starring. Manchester City’s 3-1 defeat at Bodo/Glimt left their knockout hopes in jeopardy, and Napoli’s struggles continued as they slipped to 23rd in the standings.

Back in Milan, the final whistle brought relief for Arsenal and despair for Inter. The Gunners, now with seven wins from seven in the group stage, looked every inch a side capable of challenging for their first Champions League crown. Inter, meanwhile, must regroup quickly ahead of a daunting final group game against Dortmund—a match that could define their season.

What a night at San Siro! Arsenal’s European adventure rolls on, and with performances like this, who would dare bet against them going all the way?