Arsenal have now learned who their opponents will be in the Champions League this season, as the new format is implemented for the first time.
The old group stage has been replaced by a league phase, with each team facing eight different opponents to finish as high as possible in one collective table.
Arsenal’s opponents have been confirmed after the draw for this first phase, with Mikel Arteta’s side set to face Paris Saint-Germain, Shakhtar Donetsk, Dinamo Zagreb and AS Monaco at home, whilst they will travel to face Inter Milan, Atalanta, Sporting Club De Portugal and Girona.
Arsenal’s trip to face Inter has been met with particular excitement. The Gunners will face the Italian Champions at the San Siro, in what promises to be a box-office clash, and one which will see Arsenal test themselves against an outstanding side.
Club legend Thierry Henry scored a hattrick when Arsenal beat Inter at the San Siro in 2003, but his praise for manager Simone Inzaghi shows why this game is set to be a lot tougher.
Thierry Henry praised Inter Milan manager Simone Inzaghi as Arsenal set for San Siro trip
Speaking in March, Henry highlighted just how good Inter are as a footballing side, and heaped heavy praise on their manager Inzaghi.
“Yes, I am (fond of his system). They quite often say that strikers cannot be good managers. Well, it defies the logic at the moment because the way he is setting up his team is second to none,” Henry explained.
“He was known as a cup coach, but now, he’s going to win the league, we know that.”
The way Inzaghi sets his defence up was also highlighted, and Henry was truly astonished.
“This is something that they didn’t do so much this year. I had to go back to a goal that they scored last year against Roma. Wing-back to wing-back – we’ve seen this before, Conte did it, they’re doing it,” he added.
“But, there’s something that I’ve never seen before. At the weekend, I never saw that before, look at the shape of their back-five,”
“I’ve never seen, in open play, at 0-0, away, the left centre-back crossing the ball to the right centre-back to score a goal. In my life, I’ve never seen that. This guy, Inzaghi, he’s a genius!”
Inter Milan will be a tough test for Arsenal
Inter won Serie A with ease last season, and this came after they reached the Champions League final, but were unlucky to lose to Manchester City.
The Nerazzurri have a proud history in the Champions League as three-time European Champions, and their current squad has quality in abundance, with former Arsenal flop Henrikh Mkhitaryan now thriving at the San Siro.
The match will be a blockbuster occasion, and a huge test of Arsenal’s quality and nerve as they aim to secure victory in an intense atmosphere against one of the few sides in Europe who can match their defensive quality.
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