‘I learnt a lot during my 11 months of injury’ - Gabriel Jesus reflects on historic brace

Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus has insisted the Gunners were the better side following their impressive 3-1 UEFA Champions League victory over Inter Milan at the San Siro on Tuesday night.

The Brazilian forward starred in the encounter, scoring two first-half goals to put Mikel Arteta’s side firmly in control and secure a historic European night for the North London club.

Jesus enjoyed life back on the pitch after missing 11 months through injury. He feared the worst after suffering a serious knee injury last January in Arsenal’s FA Cup clash against Manchester United.

He returned to action in December, netting his first goal in a 4-1 win over Aston Villa.

Jesus’ opening strike was particularly significant, as it marked Arsenal’s 400th goal in Champions League history.

The victory itself was also a landmark moment, representing the club’s first win on Italian soil since 2008.

The goals were deeply personal for the 28-year-old, ending a Champions League scoring drought of over two years following an injury-hit 2024–25 season.

Speaking after the match to Amazon Prime, Jesus described the occasion as one of the most emotional moments of his career.

“It’s a dream night. I always dreamed of being a footballer,” he said.

He added, “I watched a lot of Serie A as a kid, so to be here in this stadium and score is tears in my eyes because I always dreamed of this.”

Reflecting on his long spell on the sidelines, Jesus admitted the experience reshaped his outlook on the game.

He said, “There is always a reason that things happen, whether they are good or difficult. I learned that during my 11 months off the field.”

Despite acknowledging Inter Milan’s quality, Jesus was confident Arsenal deserved the victory.

“It is always difficult to play against Inter Milan. We came here last season and lost,” he explained.

“Tonight we played better than them, we controlled them, but they are a top team and they attack. We scored at the end and got the three points.”

He added that focus must quickly shift to domestic action, with another important fixture looming at the weekend.