Ex Arsenal & Man United To Be Benched For Inter Milan Vs Udinese After Lacklustre Display Vs AC Milan

Henrikh Mkhitaryan will drop to the bench in Inter Milan’s Serie A clash with Udinese following a subpar performance against AC Milan.

This according to today’s print edition of Rome-based newspaper Corriere dello Sport, via FCInterNews.

Midfielder Mkhitaryan took his usual place in Inter’s midfield in the derby on Sunday.

The 35-year-old has firmly established himself as part of the Nerazzurri starting eleven. He typically makes up the left side of the midfield trio with Hakan Calhanoglu and Nicolo Barella.

But there is a sense that maybe this season, Mkhitaryan’s place will start to come under threat.

The Armenian has not really shown his best form so far this season.

And in the derby on Sunday, Mkhitaryan looked to be outright struggling in midfield.

The former Arsenal and Roma midfielder was struggling with the physicality of Milan’s midfield all evening long until he came off as a substitution.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan To Be Benched For Inter Vs Udinese After AC Milan Performance

Mkhitaryan’s display on Sunday will have given Inter coach Simone Inzaghi a lot to think about.

Mkhitaryan has guaranteed Inzaghi consistent performances for a couple seasons. He has been key in tying the 3-5-2 formation that Inter play with under the coach together.

But there are now signs that Mkhitaryan’s influence is starting to wane.

And this season, the Nerazzurri coach has a genuine alternative to the 35-year-old.

Polish international midfielder Piotr Zielinski arrived at Inter on a free transfer from Napoli over the summer.

Zielinski has yet to start for the Nerazzurri in Serie A. But he did start against Manchester City in the Champions League, putting in an accomplished display.

According to the Corriere, therefore, Inter coach Inzaghi is ready to hand Zielinski his first league start on Saturday.

The 30-year-old will join Hakan Calhanoglu and Davide Frattesi in midfield for Inter. The latter is filling in for the injured Nicolo Barella.