Inter vs Arsenal – Match preview and team news

It is a mouth-watering Champions League tie at the San Siro on Wednesday night, as Inter Milan host Arsenal.

The two sides have identical records in the Champions League this season, with both taking seven points from three games. Viewers should not be expecting goals, however, as neither team has conceded in the competition.

Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard’s return to action is imminent. The Norwegian has been out since September with an ankle issue. Declan Rice is a doubt after he was missing from Arsenal’s open training session on Tuesday morning.

Their injury woes in defence have hampered the Gunners this campaign and Riccardo Calafiori, Gabriel, Jurrien Timber and Ben White will all be monitored after recent fitness struggles.

Despite coming off in Inter’s win over Venezia at the weekend, Alessandro Bastoni should be available after medical tests confirmed his exit was due to cramp.

Brazilian wing-back Carlos Augusto and Albanian midfielder Kristjan Asilani are the only notable absentees from the Inter squad.

Inter vs Arsenal – Match preview and team news

Form

Inter: WWDWW

Inter are engaged in an intriguing title battle with former manager Antonio Conte and Napoli, with one point separating the two clubs in Serie A.

Having boasted the best defensive record in Europe’s top five leagues last season, the reigning Serie A champions have been close to impregnable in recent weeks with four clean sheets in five games.

The only blemish on that recird was an eight-goal thriller with Juventus, as the two Italian heavyweights drew 4-4 at the San Siro.

Last time out in the Champions League they left it late to snatch a winner at Young Boys. Marcus Thuram netted in the 93rd minute to claim all three points after Marko Arnautovic had missed a penalty earlier on in the contest.

That victory, alongside an assured 4-0 win over Red Star Belgrade and an opening day goalless stalemate away at Manchester City, sees Simone Inzaghi’s side in a positive position for qualification.

Arsenal: LWDWL

Arsenal’s away form does not bode well with the Gunners having won just one of their last four fixtures on the road.

That victory came in the Carabao Cup at second-tier Preston North End side, with 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri on target to help the Gunners progress into the last eight.

Premier League defeats at Bournemouth and Newcastle have seen the North London club slip down the table and there is now a seven-point gap to league leaders Liverpool.

However, despite only scoring three goals in as many games, Arsenal’s have fared well in continental action. A statement triumph over Paris Saint-Germain and a narrow win over Shakhtar Donetsk at the Emirates Stadium followed a goalless draw at Atalanta on matchday one.

Last Meeting: Inter 1-5 Arsenal, Champions League, 25th November 2003.

It was a memorable night for the Gunners in November 2003, as Arsene Wenger’s team thrashed Inter at the San Siro.

After a neat interchange between Ashley Cole and Thierry Henry, the latter calmly slotted the ball past Francesco Toldo to put the visitors in front.

Inter levelled proceedings in a fortuitous manner through Christian Vieri’s heavily deflected strike, that flew over the head of Jens Lehmann and in off the underside of the crossbar.

Arsenal retook the lead three minutes after the interval as Henry set up Freddie Ljungberg, who fired past the Inter goalkeeper.

Henry produced a moment of magic to double the deficit as the forward broke with devastating pace. He beat Javier Zanetti and drilled a ruthless finish into the bottom corner.

The Frenchman turned provider once again for Edu to tap into an empty net before Robert Pires completed the rout.

That campaign had a historic ending as Arsenal won the Premier League title unbeaten, lifting the unique golden trophy in their famous ‘Invincibles’ season.

Predicted Lineups

Inter: Sommer; Dumfries, Pavard, De Vrij, Bastoni, Dimarco; Barella, Mkhitaryan, Calhanoglu; Thuram, Martinez

Arsenal: Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Partey, Merino, Saka, Havertz, Martinelli; Jesus.

Who is the referee?

Romanian referee István Kovács will be the match official. He will be assisted by Mihai Marica and Ferencz Tunyogi while Horatiu Fesnic will be the fourth official. The VAR will be Christian Dingert and he will be assisted by Cātālin Popa.

What channel will Inter vs Arsenal be on?

Inter vs Arsenal will be available to watch on TNT Sports 1 and Discovery+.

What time is kick-off?

Kick-off at the San Siro will be at 20:00 GMT on Wednesday 6th November 2024.

Odds

Inter – 13/8

Draw – 21/10

Arsenal – 15/8

Read – Iconic Performances: Thierry Henry’s irresistible display at Inter

See more – Midfield Generals: Patrick Vieira – A Gunners great

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