By Arsenal travel to San Siro Wednesday seeking to restore confidence against Inter Milan in a Champions League clash between two sides yet to concede in this season’s competition.
The Gunners enter the fixture reeling from a 1-0 Premier League defeat at Newcastle United, which pushed them outside the top four and seven points behind leaders Liverpool. Their domestic struggles contrast sharply with an impressive European campaign that has yielded seven points from three matches without conceding.
Inter, level on points with Arsenal in the 36-team tournament, bring impressive form into the contest, having won seven of their last eight matches across all competitions. The Serie A contenders survived a weekend scare against Venezia, preserving a 1-0 victory after VAR ruled out a late equalizer.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta received a potential boost with captain Martin Odegaard returning to training Tuesday following an ankle injury, though the Norwegian playmaker may not start. The visitors must cope without Declan Rice’s midfield presence due to injury, while Takehiro Tomiyasu, Kieran Tierney, and Riccardo Calafiori remain sidelined.
“We need to show a different face from our recent Premier League performances,” Arteta said. “Inter represent a significant challenge, but these are the nights where champions respond.”
Inter coach Simone Inzaghi has nearly a full squad available, with only Carlos Augusto ruled out through hamstring trouble. Alessandro Bastoni is expected to recover from cramps suffered against Venezia, while Matteo Darmian could replace Federico Dimarco at left wing-back.
The match carries historical weight, recalling Arsenal’s memorable 5-1 victory at San Siro during their 2003-04 campaign, though Inter had won the reverse fixture 3-0. A clean sheet Wednesday would mark Inter’s first-ever run of four consecutive Champions League shutouts.
The fixture pits Inter’s resolute defense, marshaled by veteran Stefan de Vrij, against an Arsenal attack seeking to rediscover its clinical edge. Both sides have demonstrated defensive excellence in Europe this season, suggesting a tactical battle may unfold at the iconic San Siro.
