William Saliba and Mikel Merino messages to Gabriel Jesus speak volumes after Arsenal brace

Gabriel Jesus scored twice to help Mikel Arteta's Arsenal side claim a 3-1 win over Inter Milan to seal their place in the Champions League last 16

Gabriel Jesus bagged a first-half brace as Arsenal confirmed a place in the Champions League round of 16 after beating Inter Milan. The Gunners remain the only team in the competition to have won all of their group fixtures and are now guaranteed to finish in the top two and host the second legs in their knockout matches.

Jesus was making only his third start since returning in December from 11 months out with an anterior cruciate ligament injury. And the Brazil international opened the scoring after just 10 minutes at the San Siro before adding a second just after the half-hour mark.

Petar Sucic had levelled for the hosts before Viktor Gyokeres came off the bench to make sure it was a comfortable end to the match for his side. Taking to Instagram after the game, Jesus wrote: “A dream night.” To which both William Saliba and Mikel Merino replied: “R9”.

Brazilian football legend Ronaldo was often referred to as R9 during his playing career. The two-time World Cup winner was a goal-scoring machine who was often dubbed 'The Phenomenon'.

Speaking to Amazon Prime after his brace, Jesus said: "It's a dream night. I always dreamed of being a footballer. I watched when I was a kid. I watched a lot of Serie A, so to be here in this stadium and score here is tears in my eyes because I always dreamed of being here.

"There is always a reason that things happen, whether it's good things or difficult things. I learned that during my 11 months out of the field.

"It is always difficult to play against Inter Milan. We came here last season and lost. Tonight we played better than them, we controlled them, but they are a top team and they attack.

"We scored at the end and got the three points. We have to keep going because we have another one at the weekend."

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Asked about Jesus in his post-match press conference, Gunners boss Mikel Arteta: "We have been missing Gabi a lot.

"I think it is going to raise his confidence levels and the team's because we now have different profiles in that position, like we have with the wingers and in other positions.

"And the fact the players are playing at that level. Viktor [Gyokeres] comes in and makes a great impact in the game - and it only makes us better."

On his side's performance Arteta added: “We’re very proud, not only for tonight’s game but for what we’ve done in the competition so far, and with one game to go to be already in the position that we want to be in.

“It is a massive prize to the team because we know how difficult it is. We really had the hunger and desire to come to a place like this against a top, top side and prove what we are and what we can do.

“We have ambition and the conviction that we can compete against any team. I love the attitude to come to this atmosphere against the opponent that we had. The team has matured, are very ambitious and emotionally very controlled. We have to carry on going.”