As Inter Milan prepare to host Arsenal in a highly anticipated Champions League match at San Siro, all eyes will be on former Gunner Henrikh Mkhitaryan. The 35-year-old Armenian midfielder is expected to play a key role for the Nerazzurri against his old club.
Mkhitaryan joined Arsenal in 2018 as part of a swap deal involving Alexis Sanchez, but his time in North London was short-lived. Now, he finds himself as an integral part of Simone Inzaghi’s Inter side, likely to feature in their trademark 3-5-2 formation.
Inter’s attack is set to be led by the in-form Lautaro Martinez, who scored the winner in their recent 1-0 victory over Venezia in Serie A. He may be partnered with Mehdi Taremi, who has already contributed a goal and two assists in this season’s Champions League campaign.
In midfield, Hakan Calhanoglu is expected to return to the starting lineup, joining Mkhitaryan and Nicolo Barella. The wingback positions are likely to be occupied by Denzel Dumfries and former Manchester United player Matteo Darmian.
Defensively, Inter received a boost with the news that key centre-back Alessandro Bastoni should be fit to start, despite being substituted late in Sunday’s match. He is set to form part of an unchanged backline alongside Yann Sommer, Stefan de Vrij, and Benjamin Pavard.
For Arsenal, there’s positive news regarding captain Martin Odegaard, who has traveled with the squad and could make his return from an ankle injury. However, the Gunners will be without Declan Rice, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Kieran Tierney, and Riccardo Calafiori due to various injuries.
Manager Mikel Arteta may opt for a more experienced midfield trio of Thomas Partey, Mikel Merino, and Kai Havertz, especially if Odegaard is not risked from the start. The attack is likely to feature Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli, with Gabriel Jesus potentially leading the line.
Inter: Sommer; Pavard, De Vrij, Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella, Mkhitaryan, Calhanoglu, Darmian; Taremi, Martinez
Arsenal: Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Timber; Havertz, Partey, Merino; Saka, Jesus, Martinelli
