Champions League
2024-11-06 - Inter Milan vs Arsenal
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: UEFA Champions League Group Stage
Wednesday 6th November 2024 - Kick Off 8pm
This game is live on TV
Inter Milan
They are the defending Italian Champions having won Serie A for a second time in four seasons and Inter Milan look like they will be firmly in the title mix again at the end of this campaign. Italian Football may not dominate Europe as it once did, but Inter Milan look like a genuine Champions League contender having come up disappointingly short last season.
Big things were expected from Inter Milan in the 2023/24 Champions League, but the defeat to Atletico Madrid in the Last 16 was a massive underachievement having finished Runners Up the season prior. The first port of call for Inter Milan this time around is finishing in the top eight of this new look Group and the side have earned 7 points through three Match Days and sit in 7th place.
Inter Milan are not only unbeaten in 8 games in all competitions since losing the derby, but they have won 7 of those matches having seen off Venezia this past weekend. They have won 3 of their last 4 matches at the San Siro with the exception being Inter Milan's 4-4 draw with Juventus.
Alessandro Bastoni is a slight doubt for this fixture.
Arsenal
Surprising news out of the Emirates Stadium on Monday came in the form of Edu's decision to leave the club as Sporting Director, despite being a key part of the improvement and development of Arsenal in recent years. This news comes at a time where Arsenal have been struggling with their form and Mikel Arteta is looking for a couple of big results before the next international break.
We are only ten games into the Premier League season, but Arsenal are already chasing the likes of Liverpool and Manchester City ahead of a key fixture at Chelsea on Sunday. Things have been a little smoother in the Champions League with Arsenal in 9th place in the big table and with 7 points already secured as they look to move into the top eight alongside the other three English representatives.
Arsenal have picked up some important Cup wins, including beating Shakhtar Donetsk 1-0 at the Emirates Stadium on Match Day 3, but the Premier League form has dropped off. Since beating Tottenham Hotspur, The Gunners have won 1 of 5 away games in all competitions and recently lost at Bournemouth and Newcastle United around a League Cup victory at Preston North End.
Martin Odegaard has proven to be a big miss for Arsenal, but may not be risked ahead of the big Premier League game at Stamford Bridge. Riccardo Calafiori is expected to miss out, while Mikel Arteta may choose to make some changes to freshen up his team.
Head to Head
Inter Milan and Arsenal met in the Champions League Group Stage in the 2003/04 season.
Both fixtures were won convincingly by the away side, including a memorable 1-5 win for Arsenal at the San Siro.
Prediction
You would fancy both Inter Milan and Arsenal to earn a spot in the Knock Out Rounds of the Champions League, but a top eight finish could be important and the main ambition for both.
Inter Milan and 7th and Arsenal are 9th in the Champions League table, while both clubs have earned 7 points through three fixtures played. With that in mind, the fixture between the clubs could end up proving to be crucial to the final standings come the end of January and that should mean motivation is high.
You have to give Inter Milan the edge with this fixture being played at home, while the recent form is certainly stronger with Simone Inzaghi's team compared with Arsenal. While Inter Milan have won 7 of their last 8 games in all competitions, Arsenal have won 1 of their last 5 away games and even that was against Championship club Preston North End.
Back to back away Premier League defeats at Bournemouth and Newcastle United without scoring a goal has raised questions about the capabilities of this Arsenal team. They already find themselves struggling to keep up with the early pacesetters and Arsenal travel to Chelsea on Sunday, which could be the more important of the two big away games to come before the November international break.
Mikel Arteta will still want to pick a strong team and look to use the Champions League to rebuild any shattered confidence, but this is a very tough place to find that victory to kick start a season.
Inter Milan disappointed in the Champions League last season, but are only eighteen months removed from being Runners Up in the competition. They look the best of the Italian teams involved and Inter Milan have already earned a draw at Manchester City in this Group.
Defensively they have been tough to break down and Inter Milan may just edge this big Champions League game on Wednesday evening.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Inter Milan 1-0 Arsenal
FIXED ODDS BETTING TIP :
I'll back Arsenal 0 Asian Handicap at 1.82 with Bet365
