If Mikel Arteta wants to inspire his players ahead of a trip to the San Siro, then he needed only play them the highlights of Arsenal’s last clash with Inter Milan.
Back in 2003, the Gunners dismantled Inter 5-1 in their own backyard on one of the club’s greatest European nights.
Among the scorers that night was Edu. His decision to resign as Arsenal sporting director has dominated the agenda ahead of Wednesday’s game, but should not detract from how pivotal this week is for Arsenal.
After Inter Milan, they head to Chelsea on Sunday in what is arguably an even bigger game.
Indeed, if Liverpool beat Aston Villa on Saturday then the Gunners will go into the London derby 10 points off the Premier League leaders.
Arsenal have wobbled in recent weeks, losing two of their last three league games after defeats at Bournemouth and Newcastle. Before that, they had lost just one of their previous 25 leagues games in 2024.
The return of Martin Odegaard is timely, even if it has coincided with Declan Rice going down with a foot issue. Odegaard has been out since the start of September with an ankle injury, but has travelled with the squad to Milan.
Arsenal have badly missed their captain's creativity in recent weeks and his leadership will also be vital during a crunch week like this one.
“It’s great to have Martin back,” said Arteta. “It’s a bit earlier than we expected, but he wanted to be with the team.”
Arsenal’s attack is rightly getting plenty of attention, but Arteta also needs his defence to step up.
Since they kept out rivals Tottenham during a 1-0 win in the middle of September, the Gunners have gone six league games without a clean sheet.
They have also conceded the first goal in four of those six games, which is as many times as they did in their previous 31 league matches.
Injuries have undoubtedly played their part and the defence picked by Arteta for Saturday’s 1-0 loss at Newcastle was the seventh different back-four he has chosen this season in 10 league games.
Ben White was only able to play the final 19 minutes of that game as he was struggling with a joint issue last week, but he could return to the defence for this clash with Inter and that would be a big boost for Arsenal.
Defence was the backbone of Arsenal’s title charge last season and they need to rediscover that as they aim to get back on track.
Arteta can, at least, take heart from the fact his side have fared better in Europe this season.
They are yet to concede in their three Champions League games and have seven points to their name. Arsenal last kept four clean sheets in a row in the Champions League all the way back in 2007.
Inter are in the same boat as Arsenal, as they also have seven points and are yet to concede.
Their goalkeeper Yann Sommer has been in fine form and has seven clean sheets in his 10 Champions League appearances for Inter.
Both Arsenal and Inter have struggled for goals, though, and the fact they have scored just eight between them in six Champions League games this season suggest Wednesday will be a tight affair.
“My blood is pumping,” said Arteta. “This is the kind of game that we want to play.
“To come to Milan to play Inter, two years ago they were in the final of the Champions League, they won the Scudetto last year so to come here and show the team that we are right now and the ambition that we have. These are the games we want to play, that’s for sure.”
In the new Champions League format, Arsenal’s trip to Chelsea is perhaps more important than this clash with Inter.
Even if the Gunners were to lose in the San Siro, they could still finish in the top eight and secure a bye to the last 16. Defeat at Chelsea, however, would be a hammer blow for their title hopes.
Arteta will want to build momentum going into that game at Stamford Bridge and that is why this match with Inter still carries weight.
Arsenal need to get back on track and what better way to do that then by securing a positive statement at the home of the Italian champions.
The Gunners have won only once away from home in the Champions League under Arteta. Now is the moment to change that.
