MILAN (AP) – 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 to lead his team to a 3-1 victory over Inter Milan. champions league on tuesday.
Jesus, who was named player of the match at San Siro, has been out for almost 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’ve been watching a lot of Serie A since I was a kid, so coming to this stadium and being able to score here brought tears to my eyes, because I’ve 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 his starting XI after the game at San Siro, replacing Victor Goqueres, who struggled to adapt. Big-money transfer 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 so I understand football.
“I’m very happy that Vic came out and scored a goal. I’m very happy that I scored a goal and Vic scored a goal.”
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 scuffed.
This was his first goal in the Champions League in more than two years, having scored in a group match against Reims in November 2023.
Inter equalized eight minutes later with a goal from Petar Sučić, but Jesus again scored at the right time to put Arsenal in the lead again 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.
“This is great. I missed Gabby very much,” Arteta said. “We have a different profile in that position, so it will increase his confidence level and the team’s confidence level.
“And the fact that those guys are playing at that level — Victor coming in and he had a huge impact in the game as well — it only makes us better, and that’s what we’re looking for.”
The win ensured that league leaders Arsenal qualified for the Champions League knockout stage, and also made them the first team in the club’s history to win seven straight European games.
Arsenal reached the final in 2006 but lost to Barcelona, but have never won the Champions League.
Arteta’s side sit top of the Premier League with seven points and host Manchester United on Sunday.
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