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Arsenal made it 7 from from 7 in the Champions League so far this season with a 3-1 victory over Inter Milan at the San Siro last night.
Mikel Arteta made 7 changes from the side that drew with Nottingham Forest on Saturday, among them a return for Cristhian Mosquera at the back, a start for Eberechi Eze in midfield, and Gabriel Jesus getting the nod up front. I thought we started really well, playing high up the pitch with energy and intensity, and in the 10th minute we went ahead.
Jurrien Timber’s shot from just outside the box wasn’t the cleanest hit he’ll ever make, but it found Jesus in a central position and he gave it a helping hand to make it 1-0. There was nice work in the build-up too from William Saliba, and Eze, and it was just the start you’d want away from home.
It was far from one way traffic though, Inter posed some threat and grew into the game quickly after we’d scored. Within 8 minutes they were level, perhaps a bit of good fortune in terms of how the ball broke to Petar Sucic just outside the box, but take nothing away from the first time finish to make it 1-1. I think Martin Zubimendi could probably do a bit more to block the shot, but the finish itself was excellent.
At the other end Eze dragged a shot wide after Leandro Trossard found his way into the box, Marcus Thuram fired over after we lost the ball high up the pitch and Inter broke downfield well, but just after the half hour mark we were ahead again. Bukayo Saka tormented them down the right all night long, one of those relentless performances we know he’s capable of, and when he drove into the box his cross was blocked behind for a corner. He floated it to the back post, Trossard headed it back into the mixer, it hit the bar, and dropped for Jesus to nod home from close range.
Perhaps the two goals could be put more in the category of scrappy than brilliant, but I thought the Brazilian had a fantastic game overall. The way the ball stuck to him was very welcome, his ability to take it and keep it in tight spaces was really important, and he used it well when he did have it his feet. I think he’s probably played himself into the starting XI for Sunday with that performance.
In the second half, Saka kept running at Dimarco who got balder with the stress he was being caused; Eze had an opportunity on his left foot but went with the side-foot rather than the laces; and Saka’s cross saw Trossard volley not miles beyond the far post. Jesus’ excellent pass set up a chance for Saka but he just delayed long enough to allow a defender to make a block, and Arteta then made changes, with Ben White and Declan Rice replacing Timber and not particularly happy looking Eze.
Inter also made changes, and there was an interesting battle between Mosquera and Esposito which saw the Italian fire a shot not too far wide from inside our box. That prompted further alterations from Arteta, with Gabriel coming on for the young Spaniard, while Viktor Gyokeres replaced Jesus with Gabriel Martinelli coming on for Trossard a few minutes later. An Inter corner then brought about the goal which sealed the game.
We cleared it, Martinelli made an exceptional pass with the outside of his foot to send Gyokeres in behind, and he in turn looked for the supporting run of Saka. He couldn’t quite take it under control, but it fell nicely for the Swede whose first time shot hit the back of the net via a soft hand from the goalkeeper, but it really was a nicely taken goal to make it 3-1. Gyokeres might even have had another, but after doing well to make space for a shot from the edge of the box, he blasted it into downtown Milan instead.
There were bookings for Rice and Merino which felt almost deliberate (Rice in particular) which means they’re both suspended for our final game against FC Kairat next week, but in the end it was another impressive showing on the European stage from an Arsenal team that have been flawless in terms of results in the Champions League this season.
Afterwards, Mikel Arteta said:
We’re very proud, not only for tonight’s game, but what we’ve done in the competition so far in seven matches. With one game to go, to be already in the position that we want to be is a massive prize to the team, because we know how difficult it is, and then tonight it was a test. Probably we didn’t have the necessity in terms of the points, but we really had the hunger and the desire to come to a place like this, against a top, top side, and prove what we are and what we can do. I’m really pleased with what I’ve seen.
And while Jesus spoke of his own pride at coming to the San Siro score twice, he took a moment to acknowledge his striking comrades:
I was so happy that Vik came on and scored a goal because a striker without a goal is always difficult. I have been fighting with this all my career, but still, I’m so happy that I scored, Vik scored, and then I’m 100% sure when Kai has the chance, he will score and help us as well.
As I said above, the Jesus performance was a real throwback to those halcyon days when he first signed and really gave us something extra up front based on what we’d had previously. Of course it’s only one game, but that’s the kind of display that earns you a place for the next fixture, and hopefully it’s one he can build on too. The Gyokeres goal was just the tonic he needed after some difficult times of late too, and maybe the opposition and the stage he scored on was just the confidence boost he needs.
Elsewhere, I’ve mentioned Saka, who was outstanding, and I also thought Zubimendi in midfield was exceptional again. No Arsenal player made more passes or had more touches of the ball, and the metronomic connectivity he gives us in midfield is more and more important as the season goes on. So, plenty for the manager to like about what his team did collectively on top of some impressive individual performances.
The win also means we’ve 100% secured a top 2 position, which comes with the benefits I outlined in yesterday’s preview – home games in the second legs all the way to the final if we make that kind of progress. Next week’s home game against Kairat is a chance to really rotate, but now attention turns to Sunday and the visit of Man Utd.
Right, I’ll leave it there, but we will have a post-game Arsecast for you a little later on this morning, so stand-by for that. For now, have a good one.
