Arsenal face Inter Milan shortly, a fixture that demands their full focus and discipline if they hope to continue their unbeaten start in the Champions League and this is the team selected by Mikel Arteta.
Arteta’s side has won all of their matches in the competition so far, yet this marks their first game in 2026, signalling the beginning of a critical phase in the season. At this stage, many teams have improved significantly compared with last year, and Arsenal must elevate their level accordingly to remain competitive at the highest level.
The Gunners have experienced setbacks in their last two Premier League fixtures, highlighting the need to regain momentum before tackling one of Europe’s toughest opponents. Inter Milan, performing strongly in Serie A, arrives in confident form, having delivered impressive displays in recent weeks. The Italians will be buoyed by memories of their previous encounter at the San Siro in 2024, when they were able to exploit Arsenal’s vulnerabilities on the road.
While earlier Champions League matches may have presented fewer challenges, this fixture represents a far sterner test of Arsenal’s consistency and quality. Overcoming tricky opponents this season has prepared them in part, but the demands of facing a tactically astute and experienced Inter side are substantially higher. Arteta and his players will need to execute their game plan with precision, combining defensive solidity with attacking effectiveness to navigate the intensity of this encounter successfully.
Ultimately, any team with ambitions of winning trophies must be capable of confronting the strongest sides in the competition. Arsenal’s ability to rise to this challenge will reveal the true strength of their campaign, providing both a measure of their progress and an opportunity to assert themselves among Europe’s elite. Victory would not only preserve their flawless record in the Champions League but also restore confidence after recent domestic setbacks, reinforcing the club’s aspirations on both national and continental fronts.
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No complaints, would love for Timber to get more rest but I guess White’s workload is being managed.
Arsenal would likely still need a premium no.9 in the summer. I’ve no confidence in Jesus and Gyokeres, they’ve had their chances maybe we’ll need to cash in at some point
OT City being destroyed again, Pep is the next coach to get a sack 🤞
Anyone else warming up with the Man City game on mute in background, some Armin van Buuren playing, and two litres of vermouth rosso negroni in a punch bowl?
That’s not Negroni reserve team left back for inter in seventies, and I might start to not make much sense. Though msybe I have just teed up a predictable response to that from the usual suspects.
As much as their young makeshift defence has been lauded, the Man City might be struggling with that injury crisis.
At this point, Lewis-Skelly is a bridge on which AC Milan is going to cross, getting to our goals.
I hope Arteta replaces him as soon as he shows signs of struggle against AC wingers.🤞🏽
Mo Molapo,
If Skelly gets skinned by the AC Milan wingers, I will be really worried.
As we’re playing Inter Milan. 😂🤣👍
Jesus.
Trossard. Eze. Saka.
Merino. Zubimendi.
Skelly. Mosquera. Saliba. Timber.
Raya.
Nwarwri maketh bench ahead of loan move. I like him, I think he is going to be big in future. I think he doos box to box like a machine.
Maddy should start these game for me. And give Timber a rest.
I like Mosqey too what sticks in mind is Chelsea game away he was calmly stepping in and pulling opponents out of confrontation that’s good in a youngster isn’t it?
Is everyone now aware, there is something tangible riding on finishing top two?
Explains fielding strongish team?
Guaranteed Homefield advantage till the Final for Top2 is massive. Playing the 2nd leg at home vs Psg would have been very different last season.
Yep, you’re right.
Gives the privilege of playing some crucial knockout games atr home for the second leg
Could prove very useful indeed
Good rotation unless you really thought Arteta would put the b team vs Inter away. 4 1st team players rested, Saka and Trossard only played a half so fresh. Rice rested to protect his knee, Gabriel too to protect the hamstring. Only worry is Zubimendi but it was either him or Rice and Rice was chosen. Same thing for Timber and White.
I thought with how Martinelli has performed in Europe, he might get a start! Think he is our top score in cup competitions. Come on boys let’s keep the momentum going 💪
We found it hard over there, but not like this Man City. Three 1 and rodders off.
Then again maybe unfair playing two places at once. Both of them Hobbits working for Gloin of the Iron Hills.
Kepa&Nogaard should be starting a game like this when we are almost guaranteed to finish in the top 2.
They will start against Kairat
A more sensible selection but definately will have some tough moments. Especially at left back area. We’re already through though so save the legs for Utd.
Hopefully Rice comes on and gets a yellow card, which we mean he misses the next game, which we shouldn’t really need him for.
God Almighty
MG, I gather you don’t know the rules on yellow cards in the CL ?
Thats next opponent. 😌
Is there some logic behind that post HD?
Yes SueP. He’s on 2 bookings. One more and he misses the next. That way he won’t miss the first KO game.
👍
Rice now on.
And he does just that! 😆
Haha brilliant.
Now that people, was some fancy footwork building up to a magnificent goal…👏🏾
Amazon Prime is a blinking nuisance. My phone popped up with the goal notification – hurrah – before it came on the tv.
Shame about their goal – cracking shot – but I did hope Eze might have hit the target after
Suep, do think zubi could have been braver and throne himself to block the shot? He seemed to hesitate for seconds there!
Set peice FC.
How good is Mosqey tonight? His age, experience, he’s learning out there, not least you touch a Euro pudding and they go down conning the ref. And straight back in after being out for ages.
When Inter do get the ball, it sticks to them like a video game.
He’s having a decent game moon girl, I think we gonna see more goals second half. Inter are actually playing game, which seems to playing into our hands. Some scary counter attacks from inter. We might sit a bit deeper second half
Good first half, but our defending has been more than iffy and Skelly is a liability.
Thought he has been good, plus inter’s attacks have been through the other side and the middle which has helped. Am surprised they haven’t targeted Skelly
Liability got got out three times
Sorry got caught out three times!
I’m with Kenya, thought Skelly doing okay.
Seems to have bulked up.
For the benefit of those watching on Prime, Maddy and Nelly are on.
🤭
🤣
Arteta’s first subs surprised me.
Merino up front?
Saka is so selfish
Had a great game though didn’t he!
What a goal/assist 👌
@Sue
Sweet…👍🏾
👍
Brilliant pass by Martinelli and a great strike by Gyokeres.
It certainly was, HD 👍
Congrats to Gyokeres
A belter from beginning to end
Excellent.
Rice booked!
For nothing.
Good.
And there is Rice’s yellow…
Perfect night. 😄
@Moon Girl
Close enough. Some crackin football from The Ladz though…👏🏾
And Spuds won to keep manager in his job. Perfect. 🤭
You have to ask yourself if he’d be needed against Kairat NYG?
Kairat bottom of the league with one point so I doubt it and you could plainly see Rice got booked on purpose 😊
Yes indeedy!
@SueP
HD called it. When you look at the cheap foul, you wouldn’t be wrong in thinking that Dec knew what he had to do. And when Mikel after the whistle, passed him with hand over mouth. It was like he acknowledged the deed. ( My little conspiracy theory)😁
HD
Your wish came true about Rice
Yep SueP, also for Merino as well.
Arsenal so dominant in the champions league, its like they’re a different team compared to the EPL in a way that they’ve beaten everyone convincingly in the UCL.
All Prem sides show better form in CL.
I think Prem is higher quality these days.
Oyama, the in the champions League tend to play against us which sits nicely for us.
Teams tend
@Obyama
Because European teams come out to play. Not sit back and try to hit you on the break.
Absolutely. There is always that space in midfield against big Euro clubs Prem clubs never allow us.
@Moon Girl
Prem clubs know better…😆
What a game, well-done guys onto the small matter of The devils.
And Bodo Rhymes with Frodo.