Arsenal defeated Inter Milan 3-1 in the UEFA Champions League to advance to the last 16.
Published January 20, 2026
Gabriel Jesus is already in top form, just one month after returning from a long injury break.
The Arsenal forward, making his third start of the season, scored twice in a dynamic first half against Inter Milan in the Champions League on Tuesday, setting his team on course for a 3-1 win.
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Jesus was out for about a year after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament in January last year.
“It’s a dream night. I’ve always dreamed of being a soccer player,” Jesus told Amazon Prime. “I have been watching Serie A a lot since I was a child, so coming to this stadium and being able to score here brought tears to my eyes, because I had always dreamed of being here.
“There’s always a reason for things to happen, whether they’re good or difficult. I learned that during the 11 months I was away from the field.”
Jesus returned in December, but since then he has mainly featured as a substitute, and up to Tuesday had only started in a domestic cup match.
However, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta named the Brazilian in the starting XI at San Siro in place of Victor Goqueres, who has struggled to adapt since his big-money move from Sporting Lisbon in the summer.
“Everyone wants to get started,” Jesus added. “I’m a very polite guy. I’m not a kid anymore. I’m 28 years old so I understand football.
“I’m very happy that Vic came out and scored. I’m very happy that I scored and I’m very happy that Vic scored.”
Jesus gave Arsenal the lead in the 10th minute, with an instinctive finish when he stepped on the edge of a shot that Julian Timber had damaged.
This was his first goal in the Champions League in more than two years, having scored in the group game against Reims in November 2023.
Inter equalized eight minutes later through Petar Sučić, but Jesus again struck at the right time to give Arsenal the lead in the 31st minute.
Bukayo Saka swung a corner kick from the right to the far post, where Leandro Trossard turned it back and Jesus turned the ball home.
Gokeres replaced Jesus in the 75th minute and scored Arsenal’s third goal nine minutes later.
The victory ensured Arsenal, who are in the league, qualified for the knockout stages of the Champions League and became the first team in the club’s history to win seven consecutive games in Europe.
Arsenal have never won the Champions League, although they reached the final in 2006 and lost to Barcelona.
Arteta’s side are seven points clear at the top of the Premier League and host Manchester United on Sunday.
