Inter Milan vs Arsenal Predictions

• Arsenal are leading the way in the Champions League after winning their first six games
• Inter won their first four league-phase games but are down to sixth after losing their last two
• The Gunners are yet to concede on the road in this season’s Champions League

League leaders meet in the tie of the round

With Arsenal sitting top of the Premier League and Inter Milan leading the way in Serie A, this league-phase clash really will really see two of Europe’s elite battle it out. 

Both have European pedigree, too, with Inter making last season’s final and Arsenal narrowly missing out in the semis to eventual champions Paris Saint-Germain, and the pair are also enjoying strong Champions League campaigns again.

The Nerazzurri got off to a flyer by winning their first four games but have fallen to sixth after back-to-back defeats to Atletico Madrid and Liverpool – a telling sign of what’s to come against Arsenal, who have been immense in the Champions League. 

Relentless Arsenal look a cut above Inter

The Gunners have won all six of their league-phase matches, scoring 17 goals and conceding just one, and, unlike their hosts, the thought of facing another big club will not faze them in the slightest. 

Inter may have enjoyed a four-game win streak in this competition, but those victories came against Ajax, Slavia Prague, Union Saint-Gilloise and Kairat Almaty, sides all in the bottom nine of the league phase. 

The defeats to Atletico Madrid and Liverpool suggest Christian Chivu’s side lack the quality to keep tabs on Arsenal, who have had no such issues against the big boys, routing Atleti 4-0 and beating Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich 3-1 in the league phase already. 

Martinelli may steal the show again

With Arsenal’s last-16 spot all but secured, there was a chance Mikel Arteta could rest some key men for this trip to Milan. However, following a disappointing 0-0 draw at Nottingham Forest on Saturday, the Spaniard will be keen to rebuild momentum and get back to winning ways as they bid to end their 22-year wait for a Premier League triumph. 

The Gunners were admittedly poor at the City Ground but they still should have picked up three points – they were denied a penalty despite Ola Aina clearly handling the ball in the box – and Arteta will not allow another laborious performance from his players. 

Inter have conceded just four goals in six Champions League games, while also keeping four clean sheets across their last six matches in all competitions, so an embarrassment is unlikely at San Siro. 

Arsenal do have plenty of talented attackers to call upon, however, and two goals is an achievable target, as is a clean sheet, given they are yet to concede on the road in this season’s Champions League.