Former Arsenal and England striker Alan Smith has predicted the Gunners to play out a โtightโ game when they take on reigning Serie A champions Inter in the Champions League tomorrow.
Arsenal recently lost 1-0 to Newcastle United in the Premier League and Inter came very close to dropping points against Venezia, but the visitors had a late goal disallowed, leading to the Nerazzurri winning 1-0. Both teams came into the game with some uncertainty around their performances and havenโt always been at their flowing best in the campaign.
Get Italian Football News spoke to ex-Gunners man Smith and in a chat that was done via InstantCasino, the former striker stated that it will be a โtightโ game of football tomorrow.
He said: โI think itโd be tight. I would have it down as a score draw, maybe 1-1. Arsenal arenโt looking as potent going forward as as they normally do. 1 or 2 players out of form. But, I could I could see them nicking a goal, maybe a set piece. You know, theyโre so good in corners, particularly.โ
He also told us about how Martin Odegaardโs worrying absence could impact the Gunners against Simone Inzaghiโs side.
โWell, they go into that game not in the best of form or confidence. Theyโve certainly missed Odegaard, somebody in tight matches, and I think it will be tight against Inter.
โSomebody that can create an opening, pick a pass. So they have lacked that. And as a result, I donโt think thereโs too much to split the teams. I think Odegaardโs not too far away from, coming back into the into the group. But, yeah, there there arenโt many players in world football like Odegaard.โ
Speaking further about the dynamics of the game and how it could pan out, Smith expected the Gunners to stay deeper and the initiative will be on the Nerazzurri to break them down.
โThe thing is Inter are a different team at home, the the dynamics of the contest are gonna be different [as compared to the game at the Etihad].
โObviously, thereโs that onus on them to attack into in terms, be a little bit more progressive, adventurous. And Arsenal will maybe sit there first 20 minutes and see how things go. So it could it could be a little bit tight. But certainly under Inzaghi, theyโre very well drilled. Heโs a heโs a clever tactician. So that from that point of view, itโll be an interesting match up.โ
There has been a bit of a social media rivalry involving the two sides in recent seasons and Smith also spoke of how defining a fixture it will be for Arteta, who isnโt going through the best of spells at the Emirates, especially with sporting director Edu now leaving.
โThatโs just the nature of the world we live in, really. Questions being asked about Arteta. Is he the right man? Thereโs no doubt in his abilities as a coach and and how heโs brought this team into the Champions League again, where they had missed out for so many years.
โSo, yeah, heโs a top coach, I think. So we shouldnโt be too concerned about Arsenal under him. But, like all managers, you know, theyโve got to find a way of getting back on the the straight and narrow, and San Siro would be a great place to do it.โ
We also asked Smith about the Inter players who will be vital in the game tomorrow and he had two names to mention.
โWell, obviously, Lautaro Martinez, and Marcus Thuram as well. They they form a really good strike force. Defensively, Arsenal havenโt been as tight as previously, so they need Saliba and Gabriel and the 2 fullbacks to be on top form really against that pair.
โAnd, you know, with those wingbacks for Inter bombing on, maybe getting balls into the box, yeah, it will be a test.โ
It will certainly be a fascinating encounter considering how much both sets of fans have been anticipating it. Both sides have the same amount of points in the competition too and either side winning the tie could help them go through to the next round.
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Kaustubh Pandey I GIFN
