Who: Inter Milan vs Arsenal
What: Matchday 7 (of 8), league part, UEFA Champions League
The place: San Siro in Milan, Italy
When: Tuesday, January 20, at 9pm (20:00 GMT)
Learn how to observe: We’ll have all of the build-up on Al Jazeera Sport from 17:00 GMT upfront of our textual content commentary stream.
Arsenal, now the one unbeaten staff within the UEFA Champions League (UCL), journey to northern Italy to tackle the would possibly of Inter Milan on Tuesday after a 40-day break within the match schedule.
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Driving an ideal 18 factors from six matches thus far, the Gunners enter this Matchday 7 contest because the UCL frontrunners, however their English Premier League (EPL) type has been removed from dominant in 2026, drawing with Seventeenth-placed Nottingham Forest of their most up-to-date home fixture on Saturday.
Inter, who co-led the league part with Arsenal after 4 rounds, enter this penultimate group stage contest driving a two-match UCL shedding streak, together with a crushing 1-0 residence defeat to Liverpool of their final match on December 9, dropping the Nerazzurri to sixth within the standings.
Al Jazeera Sport takes a more in-depth take a look at the high-stakes encounter, which could determine automated qualification entry into the final 16.
Arsenal lead UCL and EPL, however it doesn’t really feel prefer it
The Gunners lead next-best Bayern Munich within the Champions League by three factors and front-run Manchester Metropolis within the Premier League by seven factors, however they’re enjoying removed from their greatest within the new yr.
Mikel Arteta’s facet have sputtered out of the gate in 2026 with their final EPL victory an unconvincing 3-2 in opposition to Bournemouth on January 3, adopted by two goalless attracts: at residence to Liverpool on January 8; and away to lowly Forest on January 17.
It’s the first time because the 2012-13 season that Arsenal have recorded back-to-back 0-0 attracts within the home league, with Arteta conceding that it was “troublesome to generate momentum” throughout the latest sport.
“We got here right here to win the sport, that’s clear, and we would have liked the alternatives that we had,” he stated after the Nottingham setback.
“We haven’t managed that, so the phrase is disappointment.”
Arsenal stay nicely on track to finish a 22-year wait to win the Premier League title, however they might want to shortly rediscover their offensive contact in opposition to a defensive juggernaut like Inter.
Inter hitting peak type
In distinction, Inter have recovered from a gradual begin to the Serie A season – the place they misplaced two of their first three fixtures – to quickly climb to the highest of the ladder, three factors away from next-best AC Milan, and 6 factors forward of reigning champions Napoli.
The Nerazzurri are unbeaten of their final 11 home league fixtures. They have been final defeated in Serie A means again on November 23, a 1-0 residence loss within the derby match in opposition to Milan.
Will Arsenal qualify for the spherical of 16 in the event that they beat Inter?
Sure. An Arsenal victory, or perhaps a draw, in Tuesday’s penultimate League part match in opposition to Inter would assure the North London outfit end within the prime eight golf equipment that mechanically qualify for the final 16 of the match, thereby skipping the two-legged knockout playoff involving these putting ninth to twenty fourth.
When did Inter and Liverpool final win the Champions League?
Arsenal have by no means received the UEFA Champions League title. They got here closest within the 2005-06 season, shedding the ultimate to Barcelona 2-1.
Inter final received in 2010, overcoming Bayern Munich 2-0 within the remaining to finish the treble, a feat by no means achieved earlier than by any staff from both Italy or Germany.
What occurred the final time Inter performed Arsenal?
Inter defeated Arsenal 1-0 on the San Siro in a Matchday 4, league part fixture on November 6, 2024.
Turkish midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu scored what turned out to be the match-winner from the penalty spot simply earlier than half time.
The 2 storied golf equipment have performed thrice in Champions League historical past, with Inter holding a 2-1 edge over the Gunners.
Inter Milan’s staff information
In anticipation of Tuesday’s blockbuster conflict in opposition to Arsenal, Inter coach Cristian Chivu rested stars Alessandro Bastoni and Marcus Thuram in Saturday’s 1-0 win at Udinese.
Thuram will re-enter the beginning XI on the expense of Pio Esposito and can lead the road with common strike associate Lautaro Martinez in Chivu’s well-tested 3-5-2 formation.
The Nerazzurri will doubtless be with out key contributors Hakan Calhanoglu and Denzel Dumfries, each of whom are recovering from leg accidents and are near a return to match motion.
With a top-eight automated qualification spot into the UCL spherical of 16 on the road, Chivu is predicted to area his strongest potential facet in opposition to Arsenal.
Inter Milan’s predicted beginning lineup (3-5-2):
Sommer (goalkeeper); Acerbi, Akanji, Bastoni; Henrique, Barella, Mkhitaryan, Zielinski, Dimarco; Thuram, Martinez
Arsenal’s staff information
In a determined effort to search out some purpose scoring, Arteta is tipped to start out Bukayo Saka – who was introduced on as a second-half substitute in Saturday’s draw with Forest – alongside Noni Madueke and Gabriel Jesus.
Arsenal will proceed to be with out the injured trio of Max Dowman, Piero Hincapie and Riccardo Calafiori, all of whom are usually not anticipated again till the primary week of February, on the earliest.
Arsenal’s predicted beginning lineup (4-3-3):
Raya (goalkeeper), Lewis-Skelly, Saliba, Magalhaes; Timber, Zubimendi, Rice; Odegaard; Madueke, Jesus, Saka
Final 5 matches
Inter Milan: W-W-D-W-W (most up-to-date consequence final, Serie A matches solely)
Arsenal: W-W-W-D-D (most up-to-date consequence final, Premier League matches solely)
