MILAN – Arsenal cemented their status as European heavyweights on Tuesday night with a clinical 3-1 victory over Inter Milan at the iconic San Siro. The hero of the night was Gabriel Jesus, who justified Mikel Arteta’s faith with a world-class brace, ensuring the Gunners remain at the summit of the Champions League league phase.
The Jesus Show at San Siro
Coming off a week where he publicly expressed his desire to renew his contract, Gabriel Jesus wasted no time in making an impact. Just ten minutes in, the Brazilian pounced on a deflected effort from Bukayo Saka to fire Arsenal into an early lead.
Inter Milan briefly clawed their way back into the contest in the 18th minute. Exploiting a rare defensive lapse from the visitors, Luka Sučić found the net to level the scores. However, the Italian resistance was short-lived.
In the 31st minute, Jesus struck again. This time, he met a pinpoint cross from Jurriën Timber with a powerful header, leaving the Inter goalkeeper with no chance. The brace not only silenced the Milan crowd but allowed Arsenal to dictate the tempo for the remainder of the first half.
Gyökeres Seals the Deal
Despite Inter’s attempts to find an equalizer in the second half, Arsenal’s defense remained resolute. The victory was finally put beyond doubt in the 84th minute. Viktor Gyökeres, assisted once again by the tireless Bukayo Saka, slotted home the third goal to make it 3-1.
CEMENTING OUR PLACE IN THE NEXT STAGE 🧱 pic.twitter.com/YMPP1Gxo0L
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) January 20, 2026
Standings and Implications
The result has major implications for the Champions League table:
- Arsenal: Maintain their lead at the top of the standings, moving closer to guaranteed qualification for the Round of 16.
- Inter Milan: The defeat sees the Nerazzurri slip to 9th place, leaving them with work to do in the final rounds to avoid the play-off phase.
For Gabriel Jesus, the performance serves as a reminder of his “elite” status, proving that when healthy, he remains one of the most effective forwards in world football.
Thiago Nuno is a football editor and analyst covering European leagues, match statistics, and transfer market trends.
