Arsenal just received a Champions League boost thanks to Liverpool

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While the Arsenal squad travelled to Bruges to face Club Brugge, Liverpool were at the San Siro battling Inter Milan.

Despite being preoccupied with travelling and media duties, Liverpool’s match would’ve been of interest to Mikel Arteta.

That’s because Arsenal face Inter Milan in their penultimate league phase match of the 2025/26 Champions League.

Last season, Arsenal lost to Inter at the San Siro in an incredibly tough fixture, making January’s clash rather daunting.

Fortunately, Liverpool were able to relieve any nerves.

Liverpool dominated Inter Milan ahead of Arsenal’s San Siro visit

There’s a belief that Arsenal can win the Champions League this season for the first time in their history.

First, however, the Gunners will have to overcome the best teams in Europe.

Paul Scholes just criticised Arsenal’s inability to win big games in the Premier League, with the narrative different in Europe, having dismantled Real Madrid 5-1 last season.

The past is the past, and Arteta’s side have plenty of tests to overcome, with their toughest remaining league phase fixture being Inter Milan. 

If Arteta had watched any of Liverpool’s controversial 1-0 win at the San Siro, he would’ve been pleasantly surprised.

Despite conceding 14 goals in their previous six games in all competitions, Arne Slot’s out-of-form side limited Inter to record just 0.44 expected goals (xG) in the contest, as per Sofascore. 

The hosts had just two shots on target in 90 minutes, only creating one big chance to score.

Against a Liverpool defence lacking confidence and quality at present, Inter weren’t able to break the Reds down, giving Arsenal an indication of what they could do at the San Siro.

What Arsenal must be wary of amid their Champions League form

It’s so far, so good for Arsenal in the Champions League, with the Gunners already looking like the team to beat.

While it’s a positive, it ultimately means very little, as we saw last season.

Arsenal beat Paris Saint-Germain in the league phase last term, but when meeting Luis Enrique’s side again in the semi-finals, they faced a completely different animal.

PSG flipped the narrative in the knockouts, which is what many other clubs in the tournament will inevitably do this season.

It’s crucial not to allow the league phase form to be the peak, as the real tests begin in the knockouts, where the significance of Arsenal’s form will be revealed.