Inter taken to the cleaners by Arsenal at the soon-to-be-demolished San Siro

By Alessandro Schiavone at the San Siro, Milano

Champions League Matchday 7

Inter Milan 1-3 Arsenal

Goals: Gabriel Jesus 10', 31' (A), Sučic 18' (I), Gyökeres 84' (A)

Inter were taught a lesson by Arsenal who made it seven wins in as many Champions League games thanks to an emphatic 3-1 victory over last season’s finalists at the San Siro.

The Gunners were already assured of a top-eight finish before a ball was even kicked last night and now have the certainty to finish top. Whether that's good news and a guarantee of an 'easier' draw remains to be seen as Liverpool were sent packing by PSG in the last-16 round despite comfortably topping the league phase last term.

In an enthralling encounter in north Italy, Gabriel Jesus gave his side the lead with a poacher’s finish on 10 minutes before Petar Suçic's top-bin finish restored parity for the Nerazzurri eight minutes later.

But the galvanised Brazilian made the most of another set-piece mastery as he nodded Leandro Trossard’s flick-on from a corner into the net on 31 minutes.

Viktor Gyökeres then finally lived up to his £64million price tag when he curled one into the top corner to kill off the game in the 84th minute.

The win was yet another testament of Arsenal’s real strength in depth as they wiped the floor with the league leaders of Serie A despite resting key players Declan Rice, Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Magalhaes and without crocked Riccardo Calafiori.

Lautaro once again looked like a shadow of his former self against an elite team and it was only when he was replaced by boy wonder Pio Esposito in the 63rd minute that Inter made themselves a nuisance again up-front.

And the young Italian showed why there’s so much buzz and hope surrounding his name right now as he twice came close to the 2-2 leveller.

First he outmuscled Mosquera on the turn only for his shot to whistle inches wide before he sent one over. We shall not forget that he was still in Serie B last season which makes his meteoric rise all the more remarkable.

Gabriel Jesus, who was born when his countryman Ronaldo Nazario joined Inter from Barcelona in 1997, made a case for retaining his place in the starting line-up when Manchester United are in town this weekend. In fact he brought back memories of the phenomenal 2002 World champion in front of goal.

His first goal was made possible when he intercepted Jurrien Timber’s miscued effort with his toe to guide it past Sommer and into the far corner. With the Gunners controlling the game, Inter struggled to find the answers in the early stages.

Until Croatian midfielder Sučic pounced on a loose ball on the edge of the 18-yard box to expertly stick it into the top corner.

And it could have been an Inter lead when he teed up Marcus Thuram on the right only for the Frenchman to completely miss the target . And then tried his luck again when he fed Federico Dimarco to his left. But the Italian, who had a notorious shocker in the Munich showdown against the Parisians, didn’t do much better with his shot comfortably being kept out by David Raya.

Having just conceded an avoidable goal, Inter regressed after half-time. But Sommer and…Trossard kept the hosts in the game.

Until Gyökeres made his introduction count when he finally stepped up to the big-stage plate with a belting finish six minutes from time.

Top in the Premier League. Top in the Champions League. And with two world-class line-ups to pick from.

Unless they shoot themselves stupidly in the foot once again [and keep failing to turn those draws into wins on the back of Man City's slip-ups] the Gunners are heading for a major trophy this time around. No doubts.