TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A big match between Inter Milan and Arsenal headlines the seventh week of the 2025-2026 Champions League phase. The battle is set for the iconic Giuseppe Meazza Stadium in Milan, with kickoff scheduled for Wednesday, January 21, 2026, at 03:00 Western Indonesian Time (WIB).
Arsenal arrives in Milan as the undisputed group stage leader. The Gunners stand alone as the only side to have secured a perfect record, winning all six of their opening matches. With 18 points already in the bag, Mikel Arteta’s squad has virtually guaranteed a top-eight finish and direct passage to the round of 16.
Mathematically, the North London side requires just a single point from this fixture to officially seal their knockout phase credentials.
In contrast, Inter Milan is still locked in a fierce struggle to secure their status. The Nerazzurri currently occupy sixth place with 12 points. A victory against the English giants would confirm their place in the top eight, allowing them to bypass the precarious playoff round and maintain their trajectory toward the round of 16.
Inter’s European campaign began with a clinical run of four consecutive victories and just one goal conceded. However, that momentum was derailed by back-to-back defeats against Atletico Madrid and Liverpool.
These losses also shattered Inter’s formidable 18-match unbeaten home streak in the Champions League. The defeat to Liverpool serves as a stark warning for Christian Chivu’s side as they look to avoid losing three consecutive matches in this competition for the first time in club history.
Despite the recent continental setbacks, Inter possesses the momentum for a revival. Since the Liverpool loss, they have tallied six wins and one draw, with only a single defeat across all competitions. Their standing at the summit of the Serie A table provides a significant psychological boost as they prepare to host the Premier League leaders.
For Arsenal, this trip to Milan offers a chance to etch their names in the record books. A win at the Giuseppe Meazza would not only finalize their qualification but also mark seven consecutive Champions League victories, the longest winning streak in the club's storied history in elite European competition.
The history between these two is varied; Inter took a 1-0 home win last season, while fans still remember Arsenal’s resounding 5-1 triumph in Milan during the 2003-2004 campaign. This duel is a quintessential test of consistency between two domestic leaders with massive European ambitions.
Current Team Conditions
Inter Milan coach Christian Chivu must adapt his plan against Arsenal. As reported by Sportsmole, Hakan Calhanoglu and Denzel Dumfries are absent. Calhanoglu has a calf injury, while Dumfries has an ankle problem. Neither is expected to recover in time.
Inter is also missing backup goalkeeper Raffaele Di Gennaro and defender Tomas Palacios, though Josep Martinez may return to the bench following an ankle recovery.
On the bright side, Alessandro Bastoni and Marcus Thuram are refreshed and expected to return to the starting lineup after being rested as substitutes against Udinese. They will anchor Chivu’s preferred 3-5-2 formation, which may also feature former Arsenal playmaker Henrikh Mkhitaryan in the heart of the midfield.
At Arsenal, Mikel Arteta must manage a disciplinary tightrope. Key trio Mikel Merino, Christian Norgaard, and Declan Rice are all one yellow card away from a European suspension. While Arteta may not let this dictate his entire strategy, injury woes persist with Max Dowman, Piero Hincapie, and Riccardo Calafiori all sidelined for the coming weeks.
Given the looming Premier League clash against Manchester United and Arsenal’s near-certain qualification, Arteta may opt for rotation. Players like Gabriel Jesus, Myles Lewis-Skelly, and Mikel Merino are tipped for significant minutes in Milan as the Spanish manager looks to balance his squad's workload.
Head-to-Head
As reported by Sportskeeda, Inter Milan holds a marginal historical edge, winning two of the three modern encounters between the sides, with Arsenal claiming one.
However, the Gunners enter this match on a staggering 11-match winning streak across all competitions, having not tasted defeat since a November loss to Aston Villa.
Inter Milan is similarly in fine form, winning their last six outings. Their only recent "defeat" came via a penalty shootout against Bologna in the Italian Super Cup. Notably, in their two previous victories over Arsenal, Inter kept clean sheets while scoring four goals.
Conversely, Arsenal has shown glimpses of a blunt attack recently, recording two 0-0 draws in their last four matches.
Predicted Lineups
Inter Milan (3-5-2): Sommer; Acerbi, Akanji, Bastoni; Henrique, Barella, Mkhitaryan, Zielinski, Dimarco; Thuram, Martinez
Coach: Christian Chivu
Arsenal (4-3-3): Raya; White, Saliba, Mosquera, Lewis-Skelly; Eze, Zubimendi, Merino; Madueke, Jesus, Martinelli
Coach: Mikel Arteta
Match Prediction
The hosts carry a strong domestic trend and historical home advantage into this fixture. Arsenal’s occasionally stagnant build-up play could prove problematic against Inter's disciplined 3-5-2, especially as Arteta weighs the need for rotation against a congested schedule.
This provides a window of opportunity for an Inter Milan side currently at its peak. If the Nerazzurri can exploit the visitors' potential lack of focus, they are well-positioned to end Arsenal’s winning streak and secure their own direct path to the knockouts.
Read: FIFA World Cup 2026 Group Stage Draw: Indonesia to Face Bulgaria
Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
