Arsenal travel to San Siro for a pivotal Champions League league-phase clash with Inter Milan, where a draw would secure their top-eight finish and direct entry to the last 16. The Gunners boast an unbeaten run of six wins in the competition, having conceded just one goal, while Inter seek to rebound from recent defeats. Mikel Arteta urges his side to seize the opportunity against the Serie A leaders.
Match Preview: Inter Milan vs Arsenal
Arsenal head into Tuesday's Champions League encounter at San Siro with momentum, sitting atop the league-phase table after six straight victories. Their defense has been impenetrable, allowing only one goal across those matches, including a standout win over Bayern Munich. However, recent Premier League draws against Liverpool and Nottingham Forest have tempered their domestic form, ending a 14-game away scoring streak.
Inter Milan, managed by Cristian Chivu since replacing Simone Inzaghi, started strongly with four wins and one goal conceded but have faltered, losing back-to-back games to Atletico Madrid and Liverpool. The latter defeat snapped an 18-game unbeaten home run in Europe. Despite this, Inter lead Serie A by three points and drew confidence from last season's 1-0 victory over Arsenal at the same venue, courtesy of a Hakan Calhanoglu penalty.
Team news reveals challenges for both sides. Inter will miss Hakan Calhanoglu (calf injury) and Denzel Dumfries (ankle), though Alessandro Bastoni and Marcus Thuram are set to return. Arsenal face absences with Piero Hincapie (groin), Riccardo Calafiori (muscle) and Max Dowman (ankle) sidelined, but Kai Havertz and Christhian Mosquera are available. Players like Declan Rice and Mikel Merino walk a suspension tightrope.
Arteta emphasized the stakes in his pre-match press conference: "In the Champions League, when you have the opportunity to achieve something, you have to grab it." He added that a win would confirm top-eight qualification, providing home advantage in knockouts. Forward Gabriel Jesus, Arsenal's sole title-winner from his Manchester City days, expressed his desire to stay and lift trophies: "We are getting closer... I want to win trophies with Arsenal."
Predictions vary, with some experts favoring Arsenal's depth and form for a narrow win, while others see Inter's home strength prevailing in a low-scoring affair. Both teams prioritize a top-eight spot to avoid playoffs.
