Arsenal at Inter Milan CL Preview: Tall Test

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In the midst of a downturn in form, the Gunners head to Italy to face one of the best clubs in the world

It's been a rough two weeks for Arsenal, as things have quickly gone far from smooth sailing to holding the ship together with duct tape in a hurry. A middling run of form was punctuated with last weekend's loss away at Newcastle. If that loss was the latest in a series of fresh wounds, the abrupt resignation of sporting director Edu on Monday was a healthy scoop of salt rubbed in.

And now, in the midst of a bit of an identity crisis on the pitch, the Gunners are set to jet off to the fashion capital of Italy to take on Inter Milan for a Champions League tie that poses a steep test for an Arsenal side that are in desperate need of finding some confidence.

It's a massive tie, but with the minor safety net of the Champions League league table setup. Arsenal have 6 more league stage matches to go after Wednesday, which takes a bit of the pressure off of the upcoming tie. A top 8 finish is the goal, but there is still safety in finishing in the 9-24 places, albeit followed by a two-legged playoff. Still, a win could see Arsenal's momentum shift, while a loss will only amplify the voices of the already throaty criticisms being lobbed at the club.

Will the Gunners be able to rediscover their identity under the brightest lights on the biggest stage against one of the game's best sides?

Here are five talking points ahead of Wednesday's clash:

Know the Enemy

Inter Milan have always been one of Italy's superclubs, and they have carried the torch in recent years. They ended last season's domestic campaign as champions of Serie A, their 20th league title in total. Two season's ago, they finished as runners up in the Champions League, losing out to a treble winning Manchester City side.

This season, they have picked up where they left off. Sitting 2nd in the Serie A table, they've won 7 and drawn 3 while losing only once in league play. In the Champions League, they are 7th with 2 wins and a draw, the same record as Arsenal, while sitting two spots higher than the Gunners by proxy of a better goal differential.

They are undoubtedly the toughest test on Arsenal's CL slate. Their two headed attack of Lautaro Martinez and Marcus Thuram provide a one-two punch of technical prowess with power up top, while their 5-man midfield make it next to impossible to bypass the middle of the pitch while also facilitating quick transition play in offense. Running a back three in defense, manager Simone Inzaghi's defense is replete with big, disciplined defenders that are not easily beaten.

Much like their history with PSG, Arsenal's history with Internazionale is exceptionally limited, as the two clubs have only ever played each other twice, splitting the home and away results with a win and loss apiece back in 2003.

Last Time Out

Arsenal's last Champions League match came at home against a Shakhtar side that had failed to score a single goal in their first two Champions League matches. While the match ended 1-0 to the hosts, it was one of several recent uninspiring performances for the North London club that they made far harder than it needed to be.

The Gunners outplayed the visitors from the jump, but struggled to make the most of their chances. It took a Gabriel Martinelli ricocheted shot off the post and then off the keeper's butt to put the hosts up, and that weird goal turned out to be the difference maker. Arsenal looked to be cruising to an uneventful win until the final 20 minutes of the match, where Shakhtar found some rhythm and gave the Arsenal defense fits. If not for a timely save from Raya late in the match, the visitors might have snuck out of the Emirates with a 1-1 draw.

Injuries & Suspensions

Arsenal's injuries remain largely the same as we have come to know them. Riccardo Calafiori's knee injury against Shakhtar sees him out for the coming weeks, though the return of Jurrien Timber helps alleviate his absence.

Ben White's late cameo at Newcastle seemed to indicate that he is past his recent injury issue, which, coupled with the return of Bukayo Saka, is a massive boost for the right side in particular.

Once more, we await the return of Martin Ødegaard to training. The goal was for him to be available for the trip to Inter, but without making the bench on Saturday, it would be a stretch to assume he will be in the plans for Wednesday.

Tomiyasu and Tierney remain out.

Lineup Prediction

Attack: Trossard, Jesus, Saka

Something has to change in the attack, and I think that starts with the striker. It has less to do with Havertz being poor and more to do with the lack of service he has received, rendering his strengths as non-factors. Jesus adds a little more dynamism than Kai, and he is likely hungry to prove himself after his performance in the Carabao Cup match, with his skill set better suited against Inter. Martinelli has been poor in recent matches and has struggled against elite competition, so a rest for him on Wednesday might be necessary. Trossard hasn't been much better recently, but his performances have come from the midfield, while he usually excels off the left.

Midfield: Merino, Partey, Havertz

I had previously had a whole section about how the Merino experiment hasn't worked yet, but with news on Tuesday that Declan Rice did not travel with the team, that has drastically changed the makeup of the midfield. Despite his poor showing against Newcastle, few people can match the dogged energy and defensive solidity of Rice. I chose Kai for the midfield due to his ball playing and late runs. He needs to get on the ball more, and playing deep should help. Partey should return to his rightful spot, as his passing and progression were sorely missed while he deputized at right back, and his ability to break the press will be needed against Inter's midfield and attack.

Defense: Timber, Gabriel, Saliba, White

In Mikel Arteta's system, the attack starts from the back. Ben White's absence on the right has contributed to a black hole of creativity on the right flank. His overlapping runs with Saka have been a cornerstone of the attack, and the sooner that can be re-established, the better. Just as importantly, his understanding with Saliba makes both of their jobs easier, and makes the defense that much more sound.

Finding a Spark

Arsenal have made a nasty habit of not being able to score on the road in Europe. Going all the way back to last season's Champions League, the Gunners have only scored 4 goals from 6 away matches in that span, highlighting one of the key criticisms of Mikel Arteta, which is his awful record on the road in Europe. It's hard to pinpoint what exactly confounds him in those circumstances, but it has become a feature and not a bug at this point. Arsenal need to find some way to get the balls in the back of the net, plain and simple. Whether that means playing more openly or being more risky, it's an issue that has to be fixed if the Gunners have any hopes of making another deep run this season.

It's not quite "time to panic" time, but the longer Arsenal's poor run continues, the closer it gets to feeling that way. I am not entirely confident that the Gunners will be able to get over their slump over the course of one CL match, but they have a chance to rebuild a bit of their belief and confidence with a solid outing. And who knows, maybe they just go out there and take all three points. At this point, though, and with a huge London Derby with Chelsea on the weekend, a draw and no injuries will be enough.

WHO: Arsenal at Inter Milan
WHAT: Champions League league stage match 4
WHEN: Wednesday, November 6th, 3:00pm EST/12:00pm PST/8:00pm GMT
WHERE: Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, Milan
HOW TO WATCH: Streaming on the Paramount+ app.

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