Arsenal play Inter Milan in the Champions League on Tuesday. (GETTY, Ay_Gunner/X)
Arsenal play Inter Milan in the Champions League on Tuesday. (GETTY, Ay_Gunner/X)
Fans reacted to the inclusion of midfielder Eberechi Eze in Arsenal's starting line-up against Inter Milan in an UEFA Champions League league phase game on Tuesday (January 20). The Gunners are atop the standings and have qualified for the knockouts.
Having had a perfect start to their European campaign with six straight wins, the Gunners are coming off a goalless Premier League draw at Nottingham Forest at the weekend, opening up a seven-point lead at the top after 21 games.
However, their attention now turns towards the clash at Serie A leaders Inter, who are sixth in the Champions League standings. Fans are pleased to see Eze start at the San Siro:
"Looks alright to me. Nice to see Eze getting a start," noted another.
Here are some more fan reactions:
#Arsenal Eze HAS to put in a performance tonight," commented one.
"Eze please brudda you gotta perform and displace Odegaard," posted another.
Eze, 27, has played five times in the UEFA Champions League this season, starting thrice, contributing two assists. Overall, the England international has five goals and four assists in 27 outings across competitions this campaign.
What happened the last time Arsenal visited the San Siro to face Inter Milan?
Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta
Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta
Arsenal won't have happy memories of their last visit to Serie A leaders Inter Milan. The Gunners fell 1-0 to the Nerazzurri in a league phase game in the 2024-25 season.
Hakan Calhanoglu scored the game's only goal at the San Siro from the spot in the third minute of first-half stoppage time as Mikel Arteta's side returned empty-handed to north London.
Overall, the Gunners have had three Champions League meetings with Inter, winning twice, including once at the San Siro, which came in a group-stage clash in the 2003-04 edition of the competition. Club record scored Thierry Henry scored twice as Arsene Wenger's men registered one of their biggest European away wins.
Henry and Co. would lose 3-2 on aggregate to domestic rivals Chelsea in the quarter-finals that season after topping their group and beating Celta Vigo 5-2 on aggregate in the Round of 16. They would go on to win the Premier League that season and are well placed to repeat that run as they seek to end a 22-year league title drought.