There is a quiet luxury to Arsenal’s position in this Champions League campaign. Six wins from six have already secured a place in the last 16, making tonight’s trip to Inter Milan less about survival and more about judgment. With Manchester United visiting the Emirates this weekend, Mikel Arteta’s selection choices feel as much philosophical as tactical.
Arteta balancing freshness and rhythm
Arteta faces a familiar elite problem, how to rotate without dulling competitive edge. Asked about the strength of his side, he kept his cards close, saying:
“Let’s see. After a really good night of sleep, we’ll see how it goes.”
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That line hints at flexibility rather than indifference. Arsenal may have already done the hard work in Europe, but the manager remains wary of disrupting rhythm too heavily, especially away at the San Siro.
Injury picture and returning options
The travelling squad is not without limits. Riccardo Calafiori, Piero Hincapie and Max Dowman have not made the trip to Milan, narrowing defensive options. Cristhian Mosquera, however, is available again after appearing on the bench against Nottingham Forest and could see his first minutes in over six weeks.
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Kai Havertz is expected to feature in some capacity, though whether that comes from the start remains unclear. Bukayo Saka, meanwhile, has been managing what Arteta described as a “niggle” following the Forest draw, raising the possibility of a precautionary bench role.
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Predicted Arsenal lineup and shape
Rotation would likely bring Eberechi Eze, Gabriel Jesus and Mikel Merino into the starting side. Eze’s only start in nearly a month came in the FA Cup against Portsmouth, making this a potential reintroduction on a bigger stage.
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Predicted Arsenal XI (4-3-3): Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis Skelly; Rice, Merino, Eze; Madueke, Jesus, Trossard.
Injured: Calafiori, Hincapie, Dowman
Kick off: 8pm GMT, Tuesday January 19, 2026
Venue: San Siro
TV: Amazon Prime Video