Arsenal claimed a 3-1 victory over Inter Milan in the Champions League league phase, becoming the first team to qualify directly for the knockout rounds. Gabriel Jesus scored twice early on, with Viktor Gyokeres adding a late third after Petar Sucic's equalizer for the hosts. The win extends Arsenal's perfect record to seven games and drops Inter to ninth place.
Arsenal's dominant performance at San Siro on January 20, 2026, solidified their position at the top of the Champions League standings. Mikel Arteta's side, leading the Premier League, struck first through Gabriel Jesus in the opening half, only for Inter's Petar Sucic to level the score with a superb strike. Jesus restored the lead shortly after, capitalizing on defensive lapses from the Italian champions.
The match, part of the revamped league phase, saw Arsenal maintain their unbeaten run in Europe this season. With two games remaining, they are guaranteed a top-two finish, ensuring direct entry to the last 16 without playoffs. Inter, who topped Serie A, suffered their third consecutive defeat in the competition for the first time, slipping out of the automatic qualification spots.
Background context highlights Arsenal's historical struggles in the men's Champions League, where they have yet to claim the title despite near misses. This result contrasts with their last meeting in 2024, a 1-0 Inter win at the same venue via a Hakan Calhanoglu penalty. Injuries plagued both teams: Inter missed Hakan Calhanoglu and Denzel Dumfries, while Arsenal were without Riccardo Calafiori and Piero Hincapie but welcomed back Cristian Norgaard and Ethan Nwaneri.
The victory underscores Arsenal's momentum, with Jesus emerging as the standout performer. Inter now face pressure to recover in their final league phase match to avoid the playoffs. As the competition resumes post-winter break, Arsenal's form positions them as serious contenders for the elusive trophy.
