Gabriel Jesus stood on the San Siro pitch with tears in his eyes, the noise of the away end still echoing around the steep stands, and tried to put into words what had just happened. A year earlier he had been facing the bleakest spell of his career, his anterior cruciate ligament torn, his future uncertain. Now he had just inspired Arsenal to a landmark Champions League victory over Inter Milan, scoring twice in a 3-1 win that felt as significant emotionally as it was historically.

For Jesus, this was more than a standout performance on a grand European stage. It was the culmination of months of pain, doubt and lonely rehabilitation, distilled into 75 minutes of relentless movement, sharp finishing and visible joy. For Arsenal, it was the night their modern identity under Mikel Arteta crystallised into something tangible: a team capable of going away to one of Europe’s most intimidating arenas and imposing its football, its personality and its ambition.

“It’s a dream night. I always dreamed of being a footballer,” Jesus said afterwards, still processing the scale of the occasion. “I watched a lot of Serie A when I was a kid, so to be here in this stadium and score here is tears in my eyes because I always dreamed of being here.”

Those dreams had been placed on hold for almost a year. The ACL injury he suffered the previous January had not only removed him from the pitch but also from the rhythm and routine that define a professional footballer’s life. Eleven months of recovery meant eleven months of watching others play, of wondering how his body would respond, of questioning whether he would ever again feel as sharp and explosive as before.

“There is always a reason that things happen, whether it’s good things or difficult things,” he reflected. “I learned that during my 11 months out of the field.”

He returned to action in December, but Arteta handled him cautiously. Cameos from the bench, controlled minutes, and only two starts in domestic cup competitions suggested a carefully managed reintegration. Arsenal had invested heavily in Viktor Gyökeres in the summer, the powerful Swedish striker signed from Sporting CP to add a different dimension to their attack. Yet Gyökeres had struggled to adapt to the pace and nuance of English and European football, and the centre-forward position remained a live debate among supporters and pundits.

At San Siro, Arteta made his boldest call yet. Jesus, trusted on the biggest stage, was restored to the starting lineup in place of Gyökeres. It was a decision that spoke of faith in the Brazilian’s mentality as much as his talent. Arteta knew that if Jesus could rediscover his old rhythm, Arsenal’s attack would gain not just a finisher but a leader from the front, a player whose pressing, movement and intelligence elevate those around him.

Within 10 minutes, that faith was rewarded. Arsenal had started brightly, circulating the ball with confidence and pinning Inter back. When Jurriën Timber’s scuffed shot bobbled awkwardly across the area, Jesus reacted quicker than anyone, stretching out a telescopic leg to divert the ball past the goalkeeper. It was an instinctive, poacher’s finish, the kind that relies on timing and belief as much as technique.

It was also his first Champions League goal in more than two years, his last coming in a group match against Lens. The celebration was part release, part statement: Gabriel Jesus was back, and he was not content merely to participate.

Inter, wounded but not cowed, responded. Petar Sucic’s equaliser eight minutes later reminded Arsenal that dominance in possession does not guarantee control of the scoreboard. The home crowd roared, the tempo rose, and for a spell the match became a test of composure as much as quality.

Again, Jesus provided the answer. Just after the half-hour mark, Bukayo Saka swung in a corner from the right. The delivery arced to the far post, where Leandro Trossard peeled away from his marker and nodded the ball back across goal. Arriving in the perfect pocket of space, Jesus met it with a firm header, guiding it into the net. Two chances, two goals, and a reminder of his versatility: as comfortable attacking crosses as he is darting in behind or dropping deep to link play.

By the time he left the pitch in the 75th minute, replaced by Gyökeres, Jesus had already done enough to be named player of the match. Yet the story of Arsenal’s night did not end with his substitution. Gyökeres, whose early months in London had been marked by frustration and scrutiny, seized his own moment nine minutes later, finishing clinically to make it 3-1 and extinguish any lingering Inter hope.

On the touchline, Arteta’s reaction was telling. The manager has long argued that Arsenal’s evolution depends on competition and variety in every position, and here were his two centre-forwards, one returning from a long-term injury, the other still finding his feet, both scoring in a defining European away win.

“This is great, we’ve been missing Gabby a lot,” Arteta said. “It’s going to raise his confidence level, that of the team’s, because we have now different profiles in that position. And the fact that those players are playing at that level – Viktor comes in, he had a great impact as well in the game – it only makes us better and that’s what we’re seeking.”

Jesus echoed that sense of collective purpose. “Everyone wants to start,” he said. “I am a very respectful guy. I am not a kid anymore, I am 28, so I understand football. I am very happy Vik came on and scored a goal. I am so happy I scored and Vik scored.”

Beyond the individual narratives, the result carried historic weight. The victory secured Arsenal’s place in the Champions League last 16 and extended their winning run in European competition to seven matches, the longest in the club’s history. For a team that has often carried the burden of near-misses and what-ifs on the continent, this felt like a psychological barrier being broken as much as a statistical milestone.

Arsenal’s relationship with the Champions League has long been complicated. They reached the final once, in 2006, only to be undone by Barcelona. Since then, their European campaigns have veered between respectable and underwhelming, with the club’s domestic rebuild under Arteta taking precedence. Now, with Arsenal also sitting atop the Premier League and building a seven-point cushion, the sense is growing that this side is ready to compete on multiple fronts.

San Siro, with its towering stands and rich history, has humbled many visiting teams. Arsenal did more than survive there; they imposed themselves. The passing triangles in midfield, the aggression in the press, the composure in possession  all hallmarks of Arteta’s philosophy were evident from the opening whistle to the final clearance.