Nwaneri set to depart? Inter v Arsenal.

Morning guys.

Well, that was an interesting weekend of results wasn’t it? Man Utd beating their local rival City and then Everton shocking Aston Villa at Villa Park. I know we cocked up our own game but at least we added a point to the gap at the top. I know, it should be more and would be if our finishing was better but unless the club are going to sign a play who can actually hit the back of the net which in my opinion is highly unlikely, we can only hope things on the chance to conversion rate drastically improves.

Mikel Arteta on the result and the performance:

Obviously we came here to win the game and we haven’t managed to do that for different reasons. Credit to them, because they are really well organised and they are really good at breaking momentum when you have certain dominance in the game. But the reality is that we created four massive chances as well with Martinelli an open goal, Declan Rice a tap-in, Mikel and the header of Bukayo, and on top of that obviously a very clear penalty in the box that is not given. So, without conceding a single shot on target, again, the fact that we haven’t won the game is disappointing. On top of that, I think we can do things better, especially in certain attacking areas.

Ref watch with Dermot Gallagher took place yesterday morning and it was unanimously agreed that our penalty appeal was correctly turned down because the ball hit the Forest players arm before his hand. The fact that he scooped the ball with his hand is irrelevant. Right!

The inconsistency from officials is crazy, look at this one from Utd’s Dalot on Doku. The City player was  lucky not to be stretchered off with a broken leg yet all Dalot received was a booking.

Imagine if one of our players had committed that challenge….

Interestingly, referee Anthony Taylor was the ref who booked Caicedo too in our league game against Chelsea but the difference that day was John Brooks on VAR who directed Taylor to the pitch side monitor whereas Craig Pawson didn’t in Utd’s game.

Anyway, we have to carry on keeping the officials away from making decisions. We cannot control the decisions they don’t make but we can control the ones they do. Hope that makes sense.

Tonight of course it’s the return of Champions League football with Mikel Arteta and his players in Milan to face Inter. With just two of the league stage fixtures left to play, Arsenal are sitting comfortably at the top of the table with 18 points.

Inter however are one of four clubs sat on 12 points and need one more win if they’re to avoid the playoffs. Their last two fixtures in this competition, which were against Liverpool and Atletico Madrid, ended in defeat.

Arsenal’s Adrian Clarke:

The Nerazzurri line up in a consistent 3-5-2, and defensive solidity is their key strength. They have a tough, uncompromising back three, athletic wing-backs and a workaholic central midfield. Conceding just four times in six Champions League matches, they are a very resolute outfit, and Inter’s expected goals against tally (4.9) is the second best in the competition, behind us.

Chivu will encourage his players to be vertical in their passing, getting it forward as quickly as they can to a front two which often contains Lautaro Martinez and Marcus Thuram, who can be a real handful with their skill and movement. 

They will try to assert their dominance in the air, winning 62.1% of their aerial duels to lead the rankings in that department. The supply for that aerial threat comes from outstanding left wing-back Federico di Marco [above] who has delivered 25 open play crosses, the most of anyone in the Champions League.

But, at times they can lack a little imagination and creativity inside the final third, which has tripped them up in several of their big games in 2025/26. They lost 1-0 at home to Liverpool, in their last European home outing, creating very few chances, and in Serie A they have picked up just four points from a possible 15 against top five sides.

The last time these two clubs went head to head was in last season’s campaign when a dubious first half penalty secured victory for Inter. Interestingly, not only was that our first defeat in the competition but also the first goal we’d conceded too. Despite going behind, we had many opportunities to equalise. Gabriel had a header cleared off the line and Havertz saw a goal bound shot saved by keeper Sommer. 62% possession, 20 shots but only 4 were on target. Whilst that sounds like a familiar situation to the one we’re in now domestically, in Europe, we’ve been better. So far anyway, scoring 17 goals scored in 6 matches.

I’d love to see Mikel Arteta mix things up a bit tonight, spring an element of surprise. Do something which will perhaps offer a change of style, something more creative and more dynamic. I know it’s very unlikely that he’ll ever play Martinelli through the middle but I’d love to see him do it. Just as I’d like to see Odegaard dropped to the bench for Eze or Nwaneri. Why not play both with Nwaneri on the right? Merino in midfield with Norgaard too so Rice and Zubimendi rest their legs ahead of Sunday’s game against Man Utd. Havertz is another option up front, after all, like Jesus, isn’t he meant to be our saviour and goal scorer? Obviously I hope he proves he is just as I hope Gyokeres starts scoring for fun. 

In the Champions League, when you have the opportunity to achieve something, you have to grab it. Tomorrow we’re really going to have to earn it against a top, top side. [Finishing in the top eight] is massive, we know that, and if we win tomorrow, we know that’s going to be the case. So, let’s make it happen.

I know we need to take a lot of what Arteta says in his press conference with a pinch of salt but it does sound he’s going full throttle tonight. Although his full throttle and yours and mine is probably two very different things. I know this fixture is important but right now, my thoughts are on Man Utd and having the strongest and fittest starting eleven available.

Finally, something from David Ornstein

EXCL: Marseille working on deal to sign Ethan Nwaneri on loan from Arsenal for rest of season. Not agreed yet. Would include fee. No buy option. #AFC favour #OM on De Zerbi / style but also PL + other European interest. 18yo decision soon.

Marseille head coach Roberto De Zerbi has held positive talks with Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta and Nwaneri, with the Italian and his style of play a prominent factor in the Ligue 1 side being favoured by their Premier League counterparts.

Catch up in the comments.