Inter vs Arsenal – Clash of the Champions League Titans – Match Preview
The stage is set for San Siro to welcome what promises to be an entertaining match between two of the most in-form sides in Europe as Inter welcome Arsenal to Milan.
More than that, however, it is an opportunity to show credentials for two sides that are both missing a European title in recent years despite dominating the competition.
For Arsenal, who lead the Premier League and Champions League tables, continental silverware has eluded them this century, and is considered to be a high priority for the club and fans alike.
Meanwhile, Inter have lost two of the last three Champions League finals and will have been disappointed not to add another European cup to their trophy cabinet.
Can Inter’s multi-pronged attack break down Arsenal’s wall?
So far this season, across 28 games in the Premier League and Europe, Arsenal have conceded just 15 goals. In their six continental games, the Gunners have only conceded once, as their defence continues to prove themselves the best in the world.
Inter, on the other hand, have had no shortage of goals. Head coach Cristian Chivu’s wealth of attacking options have given him 44 goals in Serie A, ten higher than champions Napoli who have the 2nd most goals this campaign.
Whilst they have not been as prolific comparatively in the Champions League, the Nerazzurri have still found the back of the net on 12 occasions in their first six games.
Therefore, we have a ‘immovable object vs unstoppable force’ scenario here, where Chivu’s free-flowing, goal-scoring Inter will welcome the most impenetrable defence in the competition.
Chivu has options, mind you, something the Gunners can not rely on. Inter have Ange-Yoan Bonny, Francesco Pio Esposito, Marcus Thuram and Lautaro Martinez all available for the fixture, with Pio Esposito and Lautaro starting the last couple of games together and doing well as a partnership.
Arsenal, meanwhile, still face injuries in defence – with Piero Hincapie and former Bologna defender Riccardo Calafiori both set to miss the trip to San Siro. However, both Gabriel and William Saliba are both fit, available and expected to take up their core positions in the heart of Arsenal’s defence.
A lot at stake as Arsenal look to overcome past demons Inter
The last team to defeat Arsenal in a Champions League group stage (or league phase as it is now known) game was Inter last season.
The Gunners have won every game since that occasion, where they lost 1-0 to Simone Inzaghi’s Inter, who won thanks to a penalty from Hakan Calhanoglu.
Aside from Arsenal’s knockout round exit at the hands of eventual winners PSG, the Nerazzurri are the only other side to have beaten Mikel Arteta’s side in the competitions and therefore there is something extra at stake for both clubs here.
Inter will want to prove that they have not regressed since Inzaghi’s departure last summer, whilst for Arsenal, winning in one of the only stadiums they have slipped up in will give them a further boost in momentum.
Inter vs Arsenal – Predicted Lineups
Inter: Sommer; Bisseck, Akanji, Bastoni; Luis Henrique, Barella, Zielinski, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Thuram, Lautaro
Arsenal: Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Timber; Rice, Zubimendi, Odegaard; Saka, Gyokeres, Martinelli