Arsenal aim for the top spot in the Champions League.

Arsenal only need to get a point in their away match against Inter Milan at San Siro on the morning of January 21st to automatically take the top spot in the Champions League qualifying round.

A showdown worth watching.

Earning points at San Siro has never been an easy task for English teams, but it seems Arsenal have the ability to accomplish this seemingly "impossible" mission. Mikel Arteta's side boasts a run of six consecutive wins in the Champions League qualifying phase this season, not to mention they are unbeaten in their last 11 matches across all competitions.

Will joy come soon for Arsenal in European competition? (Photo: ARSENALFC)

Considered the most anticipated clash of the seventh round of the Champions League qualifying stage, the encounter between Inter Milan and Arsenal is not simply a battle between two powerful teams leading Serie A and the Premier League. Inter Milan needs a victory in this crucial match to avoid relegation to the play-offs, while Arsenal can determine their own ranking and secure qualification if they don't slip up in Italy.

Inter Milan started the season almost perfectly with four wins, but then two consecutive defeats against Atletico Madrid and Liverpool brought the blue and black striped team back down to earth. Not only was their 18-match unbeaten home run in the Champions League broken, but Inter Milan also faced the risk of losing three consecutive European matches for the first time in the club's history if they didn't secure at least one point against Arsenal. That's real pressure for coach Cristian Chivu.

Preserve the energy of the key players.

Despite those two disappointing defeats, the "Nerazzurri" did not give up. In Serie A, they won 5 out of their last 6 matches to lead the table, surpassing both their neighbors AC Milan and the reigning champions Napoli. A team with such strong character and tight organization as Inter has no concept of giving up when pushed to the wall.

If Inter Milan represents character and experience, then Arsenal enters this match as a mature team, even a title contender in all competitions they participate in. Not only do they control the ball well, but Arsenal under Mikel Arteta is also increasingly diverse in their approach to the game: they can impose their style of play, they can defend proactively, and they are willing to play slowly to conserve energy.

Amidst a packed winter fixture schedule, two goalless draws against Liverpool and Nottingham Forest in the Premier League, interspersed with victories in the FA Cup and League Cup, were simply a deliberate strategy by Arsenal to conserve the energy of key players, avoiding the risk of injury and overwork. This is not to mention the return of attacking stars Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz, a positive sign for Arsenal.

The match at San Siro is likely to be very tight, with two of Europe's top defenses – Inter having conceded only 4 goals, Arsenal just 1 – testing each other. Inter have the home advantage and the motivation to win, while Arsenal don't need to take any risks for any reason. More importantly for the Gunners right now is to advance at the right time, with their best squad and fitness for the long road ahead.

Having conceded only one goal in six matches, coupled with convincing victories against Bayern Munich and Club Brugge, shows that the "Gunners" are capable of settling matches when they need to accelerate.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/arsenal-huong-den-ngoi-dau-champions-league-196260119213735963.htm