Gabriel Jesus sends Mikel Arteta clear Arsenal message after 'tough' Viktor Gyokeres admission

Gabriel Jesus starred for Arsenal in their Champions League clash against Inter Milan at the San Siro, as the striker took his chance while leading the line for the Gunners

Gabriel Jesus has delivered a clear message to Arsenal and Mikel Arteta with his performance against Inter Milan. The Brazilian was selected in the starting line-up by Arteta for the Champions League clash at the San Siro on Tuesday night.

The decision by Arteta also resulted in summer signing Viktor Gyokeres being left on the substitute’s bench for the clash in Milan.

Jesus has spent the majority of the last 12 months recovering from a knee injury he suffered back in January last year, and only made his return to the pitch from the lengthy absence in December.

Arsenal signed Gyokeres in the summer from Sporting Lisbon in a deal worth £64million (€73.5million) as the club ended months of speculation linking them with signing a new centre forward.

Tuesday night in Milan, though, saw Arteta hand a start to Jesus rather than Gyokeres, and the Brazilian justified that decision with two goals against Inter in the first half.

The brace gave Arsenal a 2-1 lead at the San Siro going into the half-time break, with Petar Sucic on the score sheet for the home side.

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Earlier this week, Jesus was asked about earning the number one centre-forward spot at Arsenal for the rest of the season and, in the process, replacing Gyokeres in the starting line-up on a regular basis.

"That is a tough question,” Jesus responded. “Vik is a top player, he can score at any time and Kai is an amazing player. I am so happy that I have come back."

Jesus was also asked about his connection with Gyokeres on and off the pitch, explaining how he felt when Arsenal signed the Sweden international whilst he was recovering from injury.

"Vik is an amazing guy,” Jesus said. “Unfortunately when he come, when he signed, I wasn't there, I was doing my rehab in Brazil.

"Since I come back, we have a good relationship, we talk about football. We are the same age. I have played here, Premier League, longer than him and sometimes I give some opinion, sometimes he does, about goals, he is a top striker.

"He score a lot of goals in his previous club and I am sure he's going to do that here with us."

Arsenal’s next match after facing Inter will see them host Manchester United in the Premier League, where it remains to be seen if Jesus will be handed another start or if Gyokeres will return to the starting line-up.