4 AM Champions League Clash Worth €2 Billion! First Qualifier on the Horizon – Arsenal Needs Just 1 Point

At 4 AM on January 21, the Champions League enters a thrilling Round 7 fixture: Inter Milan vs. Arsenal. Arsenal can secure an early spot in the Round of 16 with just a draw. A win would also see them create history with a record 7 consecutive wins in the Champions League!

Head-to-Head History
The clubs have met three times in the Champions League, with Inter winning once and Arsenal twice. In the 2024-25 season, Inter edged Arsenal 1-0 in Round 4. Back in the 2003-04 group stage, Arsenal suffered a 0-3 home loss but avenged themselves with a 5-1 away win.

A Draw Is Enough: Arsenal’s Favorable Position
This is a blockbuster match worth nearly €2 billion. According to Transfermarkt, Arsenal’s squad is valued at €1.31 billion, Inter at €670 million. Arsenal are in great shape with only Carafioli sidelined, while Inter will miss Çalhanoğlu and Dumfries.

After six rounds, Arsenal tops the group with 18 points and a +16 goal difference; Inter sits sixth with 12 points and a +8 goal difference. This is a showdown between the Serie A leaders and the Premier League leaders. A single point will guarantee Arsenal a top-eight finish, making them the first team to secure a Round of 16 spot!

Yet Arsenal are aiming for victory. With six wins in six matches and a 17-1 goal difference, they are in unstoppable form. A seventh consecutive win would be a club-record in the Champions League. Inter, too, are eager for a win, having lost their last two CL matches to Real Madrid and Liverpool. Since 2011, Inter has never suffered three consecutive losses in the Champions League.

Striker Duel: Lautaro vs. Zhekelajish
Inter’s star forward Lautaro has scored 8 home goals in the Champions League this year, tied for first, with 4 goals this season and 11 in Serie A, leading the scoring chart. Arsenal’s striker Zhekelajish, 27, has struggled, scoring only 8 goals in 26 matches across competitions and just 2 in 4 CL appearances. Can he rediscover his scoring touch in this decisive clash?

Predicted Lineups
Inter (352): Sommer / Acerbi, Akanji, Bastoni / Luis Enrique, Barella, Mkhitaryan, Zelinski, Dimarco / Thuram, Lautaro
Arsenal (433): Raya / B. White, Saliba, Gabriel, Timber / Ødegaard, Souvimendi, Rice / Saka, Zhekelajish, Trossard