Tomorrow evening’s clash between Inter and Arsenal at San Siro represents an important test to understand the ambitions of the Nerazzurri in the Champions League. The priority remains the league, where Milan, Napoli, and Roma continue to keep pace. The lineup seen in Udine confirmed this, with only Bastoni and Thuram given a rest.
With the new maxi group stage format, however, the two paths intertwine. After defeats at the end against Atletico and Liverpool, the goal is to secure a spot among the top eight to avoid the double playoff before the match with Juve on February 15.
An aspect to monitor closely concerns set pieces. Arsenal is the best team in Europe in this specialty, to the point of having turned it into a real system. At the start of 2026, the Gunners even hired a specific coach for throw-ins. This season, they have already scored 18 goals from set pieces in all competitions, an incredible record.
In November 2024, when Inter won 1-0 at San Siro in the group stage, Inzaghi‘s team had carefully prepared countermeasures for the opponents’ corner kicks. However, the Nerazzurri also know how to be dangerous: last season they finished with 16 goals from dead-ball situations. This year they lead the Italian league for goals from corners (9) and are third in Europe. In Chivu‘s staff, it is Palombo who studies new solutions.
If the ruthless Merino had admitted in the Premier League that his goal from a corner had only been practiced the day before, Inter too, in Verona with Zielinski (who scored with a volley from outside the box on a corner by Calhanoglu), had scored after just a couple of tries in training, as Chivu himself recounted. Calculation is needed, but also improvisation against the icy Arteta, who with his obsession for control also dominates the Premier League.
