Inter Milan and Arsenal have both made strong starts to the new-look Champions League competition but the Italian champions may be the only side to still have an unbeaten record after their San Siro clash on Wednesday.
Both teams have won two and drawn one of their opening three games in the league phase, with Inter holding Premier League champions Manchester City to an away draw before beating Red Star Belgrade and Young Boys.
Arsenal also opened with a goalless game, drawing at Atalanta, before an eye-catching 2-0 home win over Paris Saint-Germain and a less impressive 1-0 success against Shakhtar Donetsk at the Emirates in their latest continental outing.
Inter are one point behind Serie A leaders Napoli after Sunday’s 1-0 home win over Venezia, while Arsenal dropped to fifth in the Premier League standings after Saturday’s 1-0 loss at Newcastle.
This is one of several attractive match-ups on matchday four of the competition and it looks like a daunting trip for the visitors.
GET £30 IN FREE BETS WITH TALKSPORT BET
Inter Milan v Arsenal betting tips
- Inter Milan @ 11/8
- Inter Milan to win 2-0 correct score @ 21/2
- Lautaro Martinez first goalscorer @ 5/1
Impressive Inter showing few weaknesses
Inter are not top of their domestic standings as they bid for a third Scudetto in five seasons, but they are purring along nicely at the moment, having registered seven wins in their last eight games.
The sole blemish on their recent record was a crazy 4-4 home draw with Juventus in which they had led 4-2, while there was nothing too worrying about their only league loss, a 2-1 defeat in the Milan derby to an 89th-minute goal.
Having gone to the Etihad Stadium and claimed a point from a goalless draw against City in the top fixture of matchday one, Inter should be confident of their chances of victory over Arsenal.
Away form is beginning to become a worry for the Gunners. Their defeat at Newcastle was their second successive road loss in the Premier League after a 2-0 reverse at Bournemouth and this game represents a bigger challenge than either of those tests.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is still unable to call on the services of Kieran Tierney, Riccardo Calafiori and Takehiro Tomiyasu, while key midfielder Martin Odegaard is struggling to be fit and Inter could have the upper hand at home.
Inter Milan @ 11/8
Hosts can keep a clean sheet
Inter have kept four clean sheets in their last five games, two either side of the eight-goal thriller against Juve, with Roma, Young Boys, Empoli and Venezia all unable to find a way through their defence.
The only time they have been denied a goal themselves in 14 games this season was their goalless trip to City but they could have more success against an inconsistent Arsenal defence.
Both teams have scored in only two of the Gunners’ last 17 away games and it seems more likely to be the English side who don’t contribute to the total this time.
Arsenal have conceded twice against Leicester, Bournemouth and Liverpool in the last five weeks and a 2-0 Inter win looks an attractive price.
Inter Milan to win 2-0 correct score @ 21/2
Martinez the man to watch
Inter striker Lautaro Martinez took a little time to warm up this season, failing to find the net in his first five appearances including four starts, but he has not looked back since opening his account with a double at Udinese at the end of September.
The Argentinian star has scored six goals in his last eight games, even though he somehow managed to miss out on the goalscoring action in the 4-4 draw with Juve.
Having been on target against both Empoli and Venezia in the last week, he should get the nod to start against the Gunners and he looks worth backing to score the first goal of the game.
Lautaro Martinez first goalscorer @ 5/1
GET £30 IN FREE BETS WITH TALKSPORT BET
Odds correct at time of publish and subject to change*
18+ New customers only. Opt in & bet £10+ via mobile on any football market at 2.00+ odds within 7 days. No Cash out. Get 6x £5 Free Bets on selected markets. Free bets expire in 7 days. Card payments & Apple Pay only. T&Cs apply, see below. GambleAware.org | Please gamble responsibly
Remember to gamble responsibly
A responsible gambler is someone who:
- Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
- Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
- Never chase their losses
- Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed
- GamCare – www.gamcare.org.uk
- Gamble Aware – www.gambleaware.org
For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or go to www.gamstop.co.uk to be excluded from all UK-regulated gambling websites.
Commercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to talkSPORT. 18+. T&Cs apply. gambleaware.org
