The iconic San Siro stadium in Milan will host a mouthwatering Champions League encounter on Wednesday as Serie A champions Inter Milan welcome Premier League giants Arsenal. Both sides come into this matchday 4 fixture with identical records of two wins and a draw from their opening three group games, setting the stage for a pivotal battle that could go a long way in determining who tops Group C.
Inter Milan enter this match in strong domestic form, sitting just one point behind leaders Napoli in the Serie A table. Simone Inzaghi’s men have won seven of their last eight matches across all competitions, with their only slip-up being a thrilling 4-4 draw against rivals Juventus. The Nerazzurri survived a late scare in their most recent outing, edging past relegation-threatened Venezia 1-0 thanks to a Lautaro Martinez header.
Arsenal, meanwhile, are experiencing a dip in their Premier League form. The Gunners have gone three league games without a win, including back-to-back away defeats to Bournemouth and Newcastle. Their latest setback came in a 1-0 loss at St. James’ Park, where they struggled to create clear-cut chances without injured captain Martin Odegaard. However, Mikel Arteta’s side have been more impressive in Europe, remaining unbeaten and yet to concede a goal in their three Champions League matches so far.
The midfield battle will be crucial, with Inter’s experienced duo of Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Hakan Calhanoglu likely to test Arsenal’s Declan Rice and Thomas Partey. Out wide, the explosive Bukayo Saka will look to get the better of Inter’s Federico Dimarco in what promises to be an intriguing matchup.
Up front, Arsenal will need to be wary of Inter’s lethal strike partnership of Lautaro Martinez and Mehdi Taremi. The Gunners’ center-back pairing of William Saliba and Gabriel will have their hands full containing the Serie A top scorer Martinez in particular.
Inter Milan under Inzaghi are known for their defensive solidity and swift counterattacks. They’ll likely set up in their favored 3-5-2 formation, looking to frustrate Arsenal and hit them on the break. The wing-backs, Denzel Dumfries and Dimarco, will be crucial in providing width and supporting attacks.
Arsenal may opt for a more cautious approach away from home, potentially utilizing Thomas Partey in a deeper midfield role to combat Inter’s threat. Without Odegaard, much creative responsibility will fall to Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli on the flanks.
Inter Milan will likely be without Brazilian left-back Carlos Augusto due to a hamstring injury, but the in-form Federico Dimarco is expected to start in that position anyway. Center-back Alessandro Bastoni was substituted late in the Venezia match with cramps but should be fit to feature on Wednesday.
For Arsenal, there’s cautious optimism that Martin Odegaard could return from his ankle injury, though he’s unlikely to start if available. The Gunners will definitely be without defenders Takehiro Tomiyasu, Kieran Tierney, and Riccardo Calafiori. Ben White, who came off the bench against Newcastle, may return to the starting lineup at right-back.
Expected Starting XIs
Inter: Sommer; Pavard, De Vrij, Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella, Mkhitaryan, Calhanoglu, Dimarco; Taremi, Martinez
Arsenal: Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Timber; Merino, Partey, Rice; Saka, Havertz, Martinelli
Match Prediction
This has all the makings of a tense, tactical battle between two well-matched sides. Inter’s home advantage and recent form give them a slight edge, but Arsenal’s European performances this season suggest they’ll be no pushovers.
Given both teams’ defensive strengths and the high stakes involved, a low-scoring draw seems the most likely outcome.
Prediction: Inter 1-1 Arsenal
