Inter team news before Arsenal: Injured star to start | OneFootball

Hakan Calhanoglu will return to Inter Milan’s starting line-up when they face Arsenal in the Champions League clash, bringing much-needed balance to Simone Inzaghi’s side.

The Turkish midfielder, who recently recovered from a thigh injury, is expected to feature from the start against both Arsenal and Napoli.

SAMSUN, TURKEY – OCTOBER 11: Hakan Calhanoglu of Turkey reacts during the UEFA Nations League 2024/25 League B Group B4 match between Turkiye and Montenegro at Samsun Stadium on October 11, 2024 in Samsun, Turkey. (Photo by Ahmad Mora/Getty Images)

After recovering from a thigh injury that had limited his appearances, Hakan Calhanoglu will start for Inter Milan against Arsenal. The Turkish playmaker has been pivotal in balancing and orchestrating the team’s play, ensuring fluidity between defence and attack.

During Calhanoglu’s absence, Inter managed four wins and a draw but lacked their characteristic rhythm and stability.

Inzaghi has transformed Calhanoglu into an essential part of his gameplan, using him both to speed up play with one-touch passes and to cover defensively. The midfielder has the ability to change the direction of play and unbalance opposing defences, making him indispensable to Inter.

MILAN, ITALY – OCTOBER 01: Hakan Calhanoglu of FC Internazionale celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD2 match between FC Internazionale Milano and FK Crvena Zvezda at Stadio San Siro on October 01, 2024 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Calhanoglu’s recovery has been meticulously managed according to Corriere dello Sport, with the club prioritising his full fitness. As such, he is unlikely to play the full 90 minutes against Arsenal. He featured briefly in the win over Venezia at the weekend, showing decent form in his first match back from injury.

Up front, Mehdi Taremi is set to partner Lautaro Martinez, having been rested in recent league matches. Inter are hoping the Champions League might reignite Taremi’s form, which has dipped slightly after a strong start to the season.

Meanwhile, in defence, uncertainty looms over the availability of Francesco Acerbi, with Yann Aurel Bisseck possibly stepping in to give a break to either Benjamin Pavard or Alessandro Bastoni.

Inter’s midfield might also see Davide Frattesi involved, while the right flank is expected to continue the rotation between Denzel Dumfries and Matteo Darmian, with the latter likely starting.