Champions League: Jesus and Gyokeres goals guarantee Arsenal top-two finish
Arsenal's Gabriel Jesus, right, celebrates with his teammates. Pic: AP Photo/Luca Bruno
He rested his main striker, midfielder and defender and Mikel Arteta still managed to mastermind a club record seventh consecutive Champions League win and guarantee Arsenal finish in the top-two of the league phase to assure them home advantage when Europe’s elite competition hits the knock out phase next month.
Sitting seven points clear at the top of the Premier League table and with a foot in the final of the League Cup after a first-leg semi-final win at Chelsea, it is a wonder why, even though there is still a chunk of the season to run, so many still question the Spanish coach’s methods.
And do not think this was a below par Inter Milan side either. They rested players to peak for this match, lead the Serie A title race and this was the first time they have conceded two first half goals at home in Europe in nearly 15 years.
Gabriel Jesus scored them both.
Arteta made seven changes from the weekend draw at Nottingham Forest, selecting a surprisingly strong side for a match they did not necessarily need to win. David Raya, Jurrien Timber, William Saliba and Martin Zubimendi were the only four to keep their starting places.
Cristian Mosquera’s return after six weeks out with an ankle injury allowed Arteta to rest Gabriel in the heart of his defence.
Eberechi Eze got only his fourth start since his hat-trick against Tottenham 12 games ago.
The Crystal Palace summer signing has rarely matched the level he reached in that match. His limited chances have been partly down to the good form of captain Martin Odegaard in the central midfield role, but he did nothing in the San Siro to suggest he will start again against Manchester United on Sunday.
Manchester City’s shock defeat in Norway in the early kick-off assured Arsenal a top eight finish in this first phase of the Champions League, but they needed a point to secure a top two spot.
Despite that knowledge, Arteta still sent his side out playing if their very survival depended on it, attacking and pressing in equal measure. Even after only 10 minutes of pay they warranted their lead.
The Inter defence looked mesmerised by Arsenal’ rapid pinball passing in and around the penalty area before a Jurrien Timber shot rebounded just within reach of the Brazil striker who snaffled a close range goal with all the instinct of a natural finisher Arsenal have missed at times this season.
Not bad timing, either, for the Arsenal No.9 who has been working his way back to a starting role after nearly a year out injured and a contract rapidly winding down. Good for the club too, if they want to cash in this summer.
The goal triggered an equally dominant response from the well-supported Italians, who threatened to score more than once before Petar Sucic levelled just eight minutes later with a quality shot from the edge of the area. It had to be good for it to be only the second time Arsenal have conceded in the tournament this season.
Jesus scored his second goal with a close range header from a wonderfully worked Bukayo Saka 31st minute corner from the right wing.
Unplayable at times, Saka, struck to the far post where Trossard loitered to head back across the goal where Jesus held his position to nod in from a yard.
Arsenal had chance to score again but also had to work hard to defend their lead in the second half when Arteta was also afforded the luxury of rotating more players with the weekend’s Premier League task in mind.
Mikel Merino will have an enforced rest for Arsenal’s final Champions League first phase match at home to Kazakhstan side Karat next Wednesday night following his well-deserved 73rd minute booking.
A handy last minute yellow card sealed the same fate for Declan Rice.
There was still time for the goal of the match, five minutes from time, when substitute Viktor Gyokeres scored his third goal in five European games with a 25 yard curler, thanks, in part, to a stunning pass from fellow sub Gabriel Martinelli.
Sommer 6, Akanji 6, Acerbi 6, Bastoni 7, Luis Henrique 6 (Bonny 82), Barella 6 (Frattesi 63), Zielinski 6 (Diouf 82), Sucic 7, Dimarco 7, L. Martinez 6 (Esposito 63), Thuram 5.
Raya 6, Timber 6 (White 64), Saliba 7, Mosquera 6 (Gabriel 64), Lewis-Skelly 7, Zubimendi 6, Merino 6, Eze 5 (Rice 64), Saka 8, Trossard 7 (Martinelli 79), Jesus 8 (Gyokeres 75).
Joao Pinheiro 7
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