Italian media deliver telling verdict after Arsenal's Champions League win

Arsenal defeated Inter Milan 3-1 in the Champions League on Tuesday night and the Italian media were full of praise for Mikel Arteta's team

Arsenal maintained their perfect Champions League record with a commanding 3-1 victory over Inter Milan on their own turf. A double from Gabriel Jesus and a strike from Viktor Gyokeres secured the triumph for Mikel Arteta's side, who now sit six points clear at the summit.

The Gunners dominated their Italian hosts and are building a compelling argument as genuine contenders to claim the Champions League crown come the end of the campaign. The Italian press were left stunned by Arsenal's display and heaped praise on the goals netted by Arteta's players.

The opening goal came from some clever interplay around the penalty area, with Jesus getting on the end of a flick-on to find the net. La Gazzetta dello Sport were effusive in their praise for this passage of play, declaring: "Arsenal's first slap in the face is one that wakes you up".

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For the second strike, Arsenal capitalised on their set-piece prowess, converting from a corner. It marked the 19th goal from corners this term, the highest tally across Europe's top five divisions.

La Gazzetta highlighted how Arsenal exploited their rivals with "poisonous corners."

They added: "Arteta's plan is well known: surround Sommer-who isn't very tall, a factor that favors the English-with players and prevent him from coming out and fumbling. Result: goal number 19 from a corner."

Arsenal's third goal came from a Gyokeres strike on the edge of the box, with Sommer unable to push the ball over the crossbar, instead helping it into the top corner. A clinical finish that drew further acclaim from the Italian publication.

Bukayo Saka was also highlighted for his outstanding display against Federico Dimarco, with La Gazzetta noting that his dribbling prowess caused their left-back significant difficulties.

They added: "Arteta-leading the Premier League with a seven-point lead over City-showed up at San Siro with Gyokeres, Rice, Gabriel and Odegaard on the bench. A luxury enjoyed by very few.

"He fortified the fort with his weapons-man-for-man on Thuram, Merino, and Eze weaving the web in the middle dribbling away uncertainties."

Eurosport, who handed out ratings for both teams and managers, awarded Arteta a 7.5 and labelled the side a "battleship".

Their assessment stated: "It's nothing new: his Arsenal team plays with bravado and at supersonic speed. They're intimidating when they attack, but they give up a lot at the back, but the result once again favors the Gunners. In the Champions League, they've won seven of their seven games; this team is a battleship."

Leandro Trossard also received a seven, with the outlet commenting: "A perpetual motion of overlapping runs, runs, and coverage. He excelled at keeping the ball alive in the build-up to Gabriel Jesus' second goal."

One La Gazzetta writer summed up the match by saying: "If we know what happens 'when a man with a gun meets a man with a rifle,' when the top team in Serie A meets the top team in the Premier League, the outcome should be equally inevitable."

The front page of Corriere dello Sport declared: "Champions League disappointment: Arsenal win 3-1 at San Siro. Inter outplayed."

Football Italia rated Jesus' performance at 7.5, while Saka earned a seven.

Online, they penned: "After seven matches, the English team remain top of the table with a perfect record: Arteta 's men are unstoppable."

Their final live blog comment read: "Seven out of seven. Arsenal are irresistible."