Arsenal ease past Inter Milan in Champions League clash

MILAN: Arsenal continued their perfect Champions League campaign with a commanding 3-1 victory over Inter Milan here at the San Siro Stadium on Tuesday, making it seven wins from seven in the league phase and underlining their credentials as serious contenders for the trophy.

Gabriel Jesus made his competitive season debut in the competition with an excellent first-half double, and Viktor Gyokeres, who came on as a substitute, pushed the game to a close.

The outcome ensures that Arsenal finishes in the top two positions, giving them an advantage of playing in their own country in the second part and a semi-final spot.

On 21 points, Mikel Arteta's side is still leading the table, six ahead of Bayern Munich.

Arteta praised his players for delivering an exceptional, high-level performance on a major European stage against elite opposition.

“I’m very proud of the team,” Arteta said. “We said before the game we needed a special performance, and we’ve certainly done that today. We went to another level, and to do it at the San Siro against one of the best teams in Europe is something else.”

The Gunners got the first through the quickest as Jesus responded the fastest to have a close-range finish in the 10th minute.

Eight minutes later, Inter replied when Petar Sucic shot into the roof of the net, at the side of the area, although before half-time the visitors recovered control.

Leandro Trossard headed back across the goal into the corner taken by Bukayo Saka, and an unmarked Jesus nodded home.

Arsenal was composed enough to defend against Inter, which pressed intensely in the second half and denied Federico Dimarco and Marcus Thuram a good chance earlier.

Their doubts were eliminated six minutes later as Gyokeres connected to the pass of Gabriel Martinelli and chipped a beautiful goal in the upper right corner. Arsenal trudges on towards their first Champions League trophy.