Champions League Goals: Inter Milan vs Arsenal Thriller

The 2026 UEFA Champions League returns after more than a month-long break, and it does so with one of the most attractive fixtures of Matchday 7. This Tuesday, January 20, Inter Milan host Arsenal at the Giuseppe Meazza Stadium in a match that could shape both teams’ European fate. This is not just another game. It is the penultimate matchday of this new phase of the competition, where every point carries extra weight and the margin for error is minimal. Avoiding the playoff round and securing direct qualification to the Round of 16 is the main objective, and this matchup could prove decisive. The setting, the history, and the current form of both teams raise expectations. San Siro, with its European mystique, promises a night of maximum tension. Inter Milan, now under the guidance of Cristian Chivu, arrive with mixed feelings. In Serie A, the Nerazzurri are enjoying a spectacular run: they come off a win against Udinese and have collected their 16th victory, their sixth in a row, consolidating their position at the top of the Italian league. However, their Champions League campaign has been more uneven. Back-to-back defeats against Liverpool dropped them to sixth place in the overall standings with 12 points, a position that does not yet guarantee direct qualification. That is why the clash against Arsenal is crucial. The picture is very different for Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal. The Gunners travel to Italy with a flawless Champions League record, six wins from six matches, placing them as outright leaders with 18 points. Their most recent 3-0 win over Club Brugge reaffirmed their European dominance. Although they come off a goalless draw against Nottingham Forest in the Premier League, the team remains at the top, showing maturity, defensive solidity, and a very clear identity.