Mikel Arteta heaps praise on one Arsenal player after Inter win

Arsenal FC Press Conference - UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD7
Arsenal FC Press Conference - UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD7 | Stuart MacFarlane/GettyImages

Arsenal's win over Inter was nothing short of impressive.

Going to the San Siro and defeating one of the best teams in Europe is not an easy task, and yet, Arsenal's performance was able to make it seem like it might be, just a tad.

It obviously wasn't, though, and Mikel Arteta would tell you just that.

There was a lot of planning that must have gone behind a game like that. Both teams are very tactically adaptive, which would have made it a difficult task for Arsenal to get their seventh successive Champions League win this season.

They look serious about winning it all this season, and it will be interesting to see what the remainder of the season is going to keep in store for the Gunners.

Mikel Arteta heaps praise on one Arsenal player after Inter win

There have also been a few wholesome stories at Arsenal this season, one of which is the return of Gabriel Jesus. Jesus had not played a minute of football for 11 months due to injury, and he has looked good ever since returning to the football pitch.

Jesus started against Inter on Tuesday as well, and looked absolutely phenomenal as he scored a brace in the first half to give Arsenal a much-needed advantage going into the second half.

Mikel Arteta, in particular, was very happy with the way he played, and highlighted the importance of having different profiles in one position.

He said: "This is great, we've been missing Gabi a lot, and I think it's going to raise his confidence level and the team's, because we have now different profiles in that position, like we have with the wingers, and the fact that those players are playing at that level.

"Viktor comes in and has a great impact as well in the game. It's only making us better, and that's what we're seeking."

This is so true. Obviously, Arsenal have three really good options up top. Gabriel Jesus, Kai Havertz and Viktor Gyokeres are great in their own right, but that's entirely what Arteta's point is: in their own right.

Each player has his own characteristics, weaknesses and strengths, and it is important to play to their strengths as much as possible.

That is what Arteta did with Jesus on Tuesday. His techincal ability helped the team a lot, and then a more physical, traditional striker could come into play in the second half and see the game out.

If Jesus is able to keep playing the way he is playing at the moment, it will give Arteta a headache on who to pick, but it will give Arsenal a brilliant option to have in the attack. Jesus is clearly still good enough, and it was made clear to everyone on Tuesday night.

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