Arteta hails ‘unbelievable player’ after special Champions League night against Inter Milan | OneFootball

Mikel Arteta says his Arsenal side ‘needed a special performance’ to beat Inter Milan at the San Siro.

A brace from Gabriel Jesus and a powerful finish from Viktor Gyokeres were enough for Arsenal to secure victory against last year’s UEFA Champions League finalists, despite Inter’s fightback through Petar Sučić.

When you look at the top of the Premier League and UEFA Champions League league tables, there is a common theme: Arsenal are first in two of the most prestigious competitions in club football.

The result secured Arsenal’s longest-ever win streak in the UEFA competition, and Arteta has expressed how proud he is of his side.

“I’m very proud of the team. We said before the game that we needed a special performance, and we’ve certainly done that today. We went to another level, and to do it at the San Siro against one of the best teams in Europe is something else.

“It was about trying to be better than them. They manage and control the games in a very good way, and we knew we would have to do that on the pitch and with subs.”

Following his first-half brace, Jesus was awarded the man of the match award, which his boss says was ‘deserved’.

“There is an unbelievable player there, and the bigger the game, the more comfortable he plays. He deserves the man of the match award.

“We have been missing Gabby a lot. Now we have profiles in different positions. It only makes us better.”

Arteta also extended on what Arsenal’s 100% record shows for him and if he feels his side can win a trophy this season.

“First of all, the ambition and the conviction that we have that we can compete against any team,” said the head coach.

“To do that, a lot of things have to go your way, and you have to put a lot of things on the table to make it happen.

“I love the team’s attitude. To come to this stadium, in that atmosphere, against the opponent that we have, because they are really good, and they make it so hard for you

“We’ll see. It’s too early yet, but the aim is to get to May with the possibility of winning, and every day we have to make an effort, to have the energy that we’ve played today, to have this ambition, and if that’s the case, maybe we’ll take it.”