UCL | Inter 1-3 Arsenal: Nerazzurri gunned down at San Siro

Inter suffered a third consecutive Champions League defeat, as Arsenal maintained their perfect record with a Gabriel Jesus brace and Viktor Gyokeres.

The Nerazzurri were criticised for failing to win the ‘big’ games this season, but faced their toughest test yet, as the Gunners were the only side with a perfect Champions League record. Hakan Calhanoglu, Denzel Dumfries and Raffaele Di Gennaro missed out, having ended 2025 with defeats to Atletico Madrid and Liverpool. Riccardo Calafiori, Piero Hincapié and Max Dowman didn’t make the trip, with Cristian Mosquera making his return after six weeks out.

The last time these teams met at San Siro, Inter emerged 1-0 winners in November 2024.

See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.

MILAN, ITALY – JANUARY 20: Gabriel Jesus of Arsenal FC celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD7 match between FC Internazionale Milano and Arsenal FC at Stadio San Siro on January 20, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

It was a very aggressive Arsenal start and they took the early lead with a quick passing move, as Luis Henrique was keeping Gabriel Jesus onside after a scuffed Bukayo Saka effort. It was his first Champions League goal in two years.

Marcus Thuram’s effort was charged down by Mosquera, and he was involved when blocked off along with Nicolò Barella, but it came to the edge of the area for Petar Sucic to smash it first-time into the top corner.

Just moments later, Eberechi Eze lashed wide under pressure from seven yards, but it really should’ve been 2-1 for Inter when Sucic went on the counter to set up Thuram, who horribly ballooned over from a promising position.

MILAN, ITALY – JANUARY 20: Petar Sucic of FC Internazionale Milano celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD7 match between FC Internazionale Milano and Arsenal FC at Stadio San Siro on January 20, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)

Instead, Arsenal restored their advantage with one of their trademark corner kick routines. Leandro Trossard was left unmarked at the back post for a looping header that clipped the crossbar, and ricocheted into the path of Gabriel Jesus to nod in from point-blank range. Inter hadn’t conceded two at home before half-time in the Champions League since April 2011 against Schalke.

The hosts wasted another counter-attack with Luis Henrique firing wide, then David Raya made a desperate double save on Federico Dimarco at the near post, parrying the first with his gloves, the second using his leg.

After the restart, Yann Sommer smothered the Eberechi Eze effort, while the William Saliba contact on Lautaro Martinez was insufficient for a penalty.

MILAN, ITALY – JANUARY 20: Luis Henrique of FC Internazionale Milano misses a chance whilst under pressure from Myles Lewis-Skelly of Arsenal during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD7 match between FC Internazionale Milano and Arsenal FC at Stadio San Siro on January 20, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)

Trossard scuffed a volley wide and Thuram fired straight at Raya after turning Mosquera, but Alessandro Bastoni threw himself in the way to stop Saka scoring from six yards on a Jesus assist.

Francesco Pio Esposito’s chest and volley on the turn skimmed the far post after going through his defender’s legs, while Saka stung Sommer’s gloves.

Just as Inter poured forward to seek a goal on a corner, they left themselves unbalanced and conceded a third on the counter with Viktor Gyokeres.

Inter 1-3 Arsenal

Jesus 10, 31 (A), Sucic 18 (I), Gyokeres 84 (A)

Player statistic

1st half
    10' Gabriel Jesus
(Assist: Jurrien Timber)
Petar Sucic 18'    
    31' Gabriel Jesus
2nd half
Alessandro Bastoni 72'    
    73' Mikel Merino
Francesco Acerbi 82'    
    84' Viktor Gyökeres
(Assist: Bukayo Saka)
    90+2' Declan Rice

Match statistic

51
Possession %
49
18
Total shots
17
4
Shots on target
6
6
Shots off target
6
8
Blocked shots
5
4
Corners
7
3
Offsides
3
9
Fouls
17
Inter
Arsenal

Starting lineups

1
Goalkeeper
95
32
Defender
15
Defender
25
Defender
8
Defender
23
Midfielder
63'
7
Midfielder
82'
10
63'
11
Attacker
83'
9
Attacker
1
Goalkeeper
3
75'
12
Defender
64'
2
Defender
36
Midfielder
23
Midfielder
49
Midfielder
7
Attacker
10
Attacker
64'
9
Attacker
75'
19
Attacker
79'

Substitutes

22
Midfielder
36
Defender
6
Defender
30
Midfielder
13
Goalkeeper
31
Defender
40
43
Defender
16
Midfielder
63'
94
Attacker
63'
14
Defender
82'
17
Attacker
83'
13
Goalkeeper
29
Attacker
20
Attacker
16
Midfielder
8
Midfielder
22
Midfielder
35
Goalkeeper
41
Midfielder
64'
4
Defender
64'
4
75'
14
Attacker
75'
11
79'

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