Inter and Arsenal, both with unbeaten UEFA Champions League records this season, are set to clash in a high-stakes match on Wednesday at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza.
It’s the first time in over 20 years that these two powerhouses meet on the European stage. Their last encounter dates back to the 2003/04 Champions League group stage, where Arsenal ultimately dominated with a 5-1 win, despite Inter’s earlier 3-0 triumph in London.
Fast forward to today, and Inter will look to challenge Arsenal’s strong start in Europe. Under Simone Inzaghi, they began their campaign with a resilient 0-0 draw against Manchester City.
They then overwhelmed Red Star Belgrade 4-0 and secured a late win against Young Boys, thanks to Marcus Thuram’s stoppage-time goal that clinched a 1-0 victory.
Similarly, Arsenal has been impressive, maintaining a perfect home record with a 1-0 win over Shakhtar Donetsk, following a 2-0 victory against PSG. However, their only setback came during a goalless draw in Italy against Atalanta, where David Raya made a crucial penalty save.
Match Preview
Inter
Inter’s recent defensive performances in Serie A haven’t been ideal, but they still stand among the few teams yet to concede in the Champions League. After VAR intervention helped them secure a narrow 1-0 win over Venezia, they enter this fixture on an eight-game unbeaten streak across competitions (W7, D1). They hold a strong record against English sides at home, with an impressive 11 wins, three draws, and three losses.
With no major reasons to doubt his team, Inzaghi can be optimistic about their prospects, especially considering Inter’s recent Champions League success at the Meazza, where they’ve won ten of their last 14 matches (D2, L2) and scored 3+ goals in three of their last four home games.
Arsenal
In contrast, Arsenal’s domestic campaign took a hit with a recent 1-0 loss to Newcastle, marking their third consecutive Premier League match without a win (D1, L2). Now seven points off Liverpool’s lead, this European clash could offer a welcome break. Their recent away form has been patchy, with only one win in their last five road fixtures in all competitions (D2, L2), including a 3-0 victory against Preston in the EFL Cup.
Despite these struggles, Arsenal has excelled in matches against Italian teams, remaining unbeaten in seven of their last eight encounters (W6, D1). However, they haven’t scored in their past four meetings with Serie A clubs since Emmanuel Adebayor’s goal against Milan in 2008.
Team News
Inter will be without Tajon Buchanan and reserve midfielder Kristjan Asllani, while Carlos Augusto’s status is uncertain after a recent injury. Fortunately, Hakan Calhanoglu and Francesco Acerbi are back in the squad. Arsenal, meanwhile, is missing Riccardo Calafiori and Takehiro Tomiyasu, but Ben White and Gabriel Magalhaes have recovered from minor injuries. Martin Odegaard’s return from injury is a significant boost.
Predicted Line-ups
Inter (3-5-2): Yann Sommer; Benjamin Pavard, Stefan de Vrij, Alessandro Bastoni; Denzel Dumfries, Nicolo Barella, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Hakan Calhanoglu, Federico Dimarco; Mehdi Taremi, Lautaro Martinez.
Arsenal (4-3-3): David Raya; Ben White, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes, Jurrien Timber; Mikel Merino, Thomas Partey, Declan Rice; Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Martinelli.
Prediction
This match has the makings of a tight, low-scoring affair. A scoreless draw would not be surprising.
Prediction: Draw
