Champions League line-ups: Inter vs. Arsenal | OneFootball

Inter need to get back on track in the Champions League with Lautaro Martinez and Marcus Thuram, as they host leaders Arsenal with Gabriel Jesus and Bukayo Saka.

It kicks off at San Siro at 20.00 GMT (21.00 CET).

You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens from this game and FC Copenhagen vs. Napoli on the Liveblog.

MILAN, ITALY – JANUARY 14: Cristian Chivu, Head Coach of FC Internazionale Milano, reacts during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and US Lecce at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on January 14, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

The Nerazzurri are top of the Serie A table, but in the Champions League they had stuttered after back-to-back last-minute defeats to Atletico Madrid and Liverpool.

They remain in sixth place with direct access to the Round of 16, thanks to winning the opening four fixtures, but only thanks to goal difference.

Hakan Calhanoglu, Denzel Dumfries and Raffaele Di Gennaro are still out injured, so Piotr Zielinski and Luis Henrique start in midfield.

MADRID, SPAIN – NOVEMBER 26: Piotr Zielinski of Internazionale scores his team’s first goal during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD5 match between Atletico de Madrid and FC Internazionale Milano at Estadio Metropolitano on November 26, 2025 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

Lautaro Martinez is partnered by Marcus Thuram upfront, but Petar Sucic steps in rather than former Arsenal player Henrikh Mkhitaryan.

Alessandro Bastoni returns from being rested, with Manuel Akanji and veteran Francesco Acerbi in defence.

Inter have famously struggled in the ‘big’ games against stronger opponents this season, and this represents their toughest test yet.

MILAN, ITALY – JANUARY 04: Marcus Thuram of FC Internazionale Milano celebrates scoring his team’s third goal during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Bologna FC 1909 at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on January 04, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Arsenal are in extraordinary form, as they are currently seven points clear at the top of the Premier League table and three out front in the Champions League standings.

Mikel Arteta’s side won all six of their European fixtures this season, scoring 17 goals and conceding only one.

Italy international Riccardo Calafiori is out injured along with Piero Hincapié and teenager Max Dowman, but Cristian Mosquera returns to the starting XI after six weeks on the treatment table.

The Gunners have a Premier League clash with Manchester United coming up this weekend, so could be tempted to hold back.

Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka are dealing with niggling injuries, but the England star starts anyway, with Eberechi Eze, Gabriel Jesus and Leandro Trossard.

Declan Rice and Viktor Gyokeres are among those benched.

When these sides met in November 2024, Inter won here 1-0.

BRUGES, BELGIUM – DECEMBER 10: Gabriel Jesus of Arsenal prays at full-time following the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD6 match between Club Brugge KV and Arsenal FC at Jan Breydelstadion on December 10, 2025 in Bruges, Belgium. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)

Inter vs. Arsenal line-ups

Inter: Sommer; Akanji, Acerbi, Bastoni; Luis Henrique, Barella, Zielinski, Sucic, Dimarco; Lautaro Martinez, Thuram

Inter bench: J Martinez, De Vrij, Bonny, Frattesi, Diouf, Mkhitaryan, Carlos Augusto, Bisseck, Darmian, Calligaris, Cocchi, Esposito

Arsenal: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Mosquera, Lewis-Skelly; Zubimendi, Merino, Eze; Saka, Trossard; Jesus

Arsenal bench: Arrizabalaga, Setford, White, Gabriel, Norgaard, Rice, Nwaneri, Odegaard, Martinelli, Madueke, Gyokeres, Havertz

Ref: Joao Pinheiro (POR)