A thrilling performance against the Italian league leaders was given a finishing touch by two first-half goals from Gabriel Jesus, with Victor Gyokeres adding a thrilling finish to a memorable night in Milan as Arsenal confirmed why the bookmakers have installed them as favourites to capture this season’s Champions League.
With Gunners captain Martin Odegaard and his midfield partner Declan Rice left on the bench, Arsenal were led into battle by Bukayo Saka and they burst out of the blocks impressively to rock their opponent onto the ropes.
Jurrien Timber’s scuffed 10th-minute shot fell into the path of Jesus, with the Brazilian showing the kind of killing instinct in the box that has been lacking from Gyokeres for most of this season.
Inter were never going to lay down without a fight as they aimed to avoid third successive defeat in the Champions League and they responded with a stunning equaliser through their Croatian midfielder Petar Sucic after 18 minutes.
Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya had no chance as Sucic picked up a loose ball on the edge of the box and drilled an effort into the top corner, with the San Siro crowd that had been muted by Arsenal’s fast start roaring into life.
The pace of this game was breathtaking and the end-to-end nature made for compelling viewing, with Arsenal the next to strike as one of their trademark set-piece routines served up another goal.
Saka’s corner drifted to the back post, with Leandro Trossard heading back into the box for Jesus to score his second of the night with another poacher’s finish.
It said much about the strength in depth of this Arsenal squad that manager Mikel Arteta could afford to leave key defender Gabriel and his midfield generals Odegaard and Rice on the bench and still send out a side that had too much for the Italian league leaders.
In a season when some of their domestic rivals have failed to find their best form, there is a theory that Arsenal’s position at the top of the Premier League has been enhanced by the incompetence of their rivals.
Yet their first half performance at the San Siro was a snapshot of the quality of the team Arteta has built, with quality in reserve at a different level than it was when Arsenal flirted unsuccessfully with trophy successes over the last few seasons.
Arsenal’s control of the midfield was loosened in the opening quarter of the second half and that may have been a reason why Arteta threw Rice into the fray as he replaced Eberechi Eze, with Inter’s pressure building steadily and their French forward Marcus Thuram giving the visitors’ defence some concern.
Yet this would be a night when all the pieces of Arteta’s jigsaw would fall into place, with Gyokeres enjoying one of the finest moments of his Arsenal career as the Swedish frontman came off the bench to thump home the decisive third goal six minutes from time.
It was a beautiful strike from the striker as he curled a delicious shot past Inter 'keeper Yann Sommer to ensure Arsenal’s perfect record in this season’s Champions League was extended to a magnificent seven wins.