Player ratings: Inter 1-3 Arsenal – Sucic and Esposito encouraging in defeat – Football Italia

MILAN, ITALY – JANUARY 20: Petar Sucic of FC Internazionale Milano celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD7 match between FC Internazionale Milano and Arsenal FC at Stadio San Siro on January 20, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)

Petar Sucic and Francesco Pio Esposito were among the encouraging performers in an otherwise disappointing evening for Inter in their Champions League clash against Arsenal, which ended 3-1 in favour of the Premier League leaders. 

An outstretched Gabriel Jesus poked Arsenal into an early lead, before a rocket from Petar Sucic drew the Nerazzurri level eight minutes later. Gabriel Jesus was on the scoresheet for a second time following a trademark Gunners corner routine, and Viktor Gyokeres got in on the act in the closing stages for 3-1. 

You can see how the action unfolded on the Football Italia Liveblog.

Inter ratings

Sommer 6 – There wasn’t much the keeper could have done about Arsenal’s first or last goals, but perhaps might have done a bit better at organising his defenders from the corner that gave Arsenal a 2-1 lead.

Akanji 6 – Certainly one of Inter’s better performing defenders on the night. 

Acerbi 5.5 – Between him and Akanji, they managed to lose track of Jesus in the area at the corner that sent Arsenal 2-1 up in the first half. 

Bastoni 5.5 – His finest moment came in the form of a brilliant last-ditch challenge to deny Saka from an inevitable goal just past the hour mark.

L.Henrique 5 – Poor positioning when he played Gabriel Jesus onside for the opening goal after 10 minutes (Diouf n/a)

Barella 6 – Plenty of energy and some decent overlapping runs, rested after the hour mark. (Frattesi 6)

Zielinski 6 – A tough task at the base of the Inter midfield, less time and space on the ball than what he is normally used to. (Bonny n/a)

Sucic 6.5 – Scored his first Champions League goal for Inter with a screamer from the edge of the area to draw them level at 1-1. Made a brilliant run forwards, but kept hold of the ball for too long in a threatening attack that could have sent Inter into a 2-1 lead in the first half. 

Dimarco 6.5 – Some decent deliveries in from the left flank, combined well with Bastoni as usual. 

L.Martinez 5.5 – His best moment was his excellent pass which supplied Thuram in the move that led to Sucic’s first-half equaliser. A few loose touches on what was otherwise an underwhelming evening by his usual standards (P.Esposito 6.5 – He looked a genuine threat when he came on, an encouraging outing).

Thuram 5.5 – Questions to be asked over his positioning and finish after receiving the ball from Sucic in the aforementioned attack that could have sent Inter into a 2-1 lead during the first half. 

Arsenal ratings

Raya 6; Timber 5.5 (White 6), Saliba 6.5, Mosquera 6 (Gabriel 6), Lewis-Skelly 6; Eze 6 (Rice 6), Zubimendi 6.5, Merino 6.5; Saka 7, G.Jesus 7.5 (Gyokeres 7), Trossard 6.5 (Martinelli 6.5).