Inter v Arsenal: Champions League – live | International

The teams are out! Inter in their famous blue and black, Arsenal in their matching red with white sleeves. Arteta and Inzaghi embrace warmly as the players shake hands. We leave as Captains Martinez and Saka exchange the aforementioned pennants.

Who has had the biggest shocker today? Kamala Harris or Tyrone Mings? It’s Harris, isn’t it, to be fair. But the Aston Villa defender has done well to keep that particular match close. A complete failure in Bruges, where he collected the ball to concede a penalty, means Villa relinquish the top spot they held after three rounds of games. It also means that both Arsenal and Inter can move above them into fourth place with a win tonight. Perhaps even as high as second, although the Gunners will need to rattle in the goals if they are to leapfrog Monaco and Sporting on goal difference.

Mikel Arteta is asked by TNT Sports if his captain Martin Ødegaard will play tonight. “Let’s see … he’s only done one session … he brings a different kind of energy … we’ll need him if he wants to play, let’s see how the game develops … his character and personality … it’s very important to start to get him back … we have already played this season with Declan Rice in other positions so we will adapt … Thomas Partey and Mikel Merino are both talented and physical … Mikel is a real threat in the box … Thomas can break the game down and develop the ball very well … two very important players for us … we need a big one … it’s a very iconic place against a great team … we’re going to have a very big game … we’re ready for it … to win on big stages like this is always a big boost.”

Pennant clock. Both clubs keep it plain and simple with a no-frills approach, neither of the big institutions is into any baroque frippery. Props to Arsenal for the metallic rail that goes the extra mile over Inter’s simple wire-based suspension system, but a two-tone backdrop beats plain white all day long for the hosts to edge out a close and classy contest.

Arsenal make one change to the XI sent out for Saturday lunchtime’s indescribable 1-0 defeat at Newcastle. Declan Rice has picked up an injury and has not traveled with the squad in the hope of playing the weekend clash against Chelsea. Ben White enters the side. Martin Ødegaard returns as expected after his long injury period to take a place on the bench.

The hosts Inter, on the other hand, are well rested. Simone Inzaghi brings back five players for their 1-0 win over Venezia on Sunday. Hakan Çalhanoğlu, Davide Frattesi, Mehdi Taremi, Matteo Darmian and Yann Bisseck return to the starting line-up, with Nicolò Barella, Marcus Thuram, Alessandro Bastoni, Federico Dimarco and former Arsenal midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan dropping to the bench.

The teams

Preamble