LONDON COLNEY, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 05: Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta looks on during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD4 training session at Sobha Realty Training Center on November 05, 2024 in London Colney, England. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)

Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta praised his colleague Simone Inzaghi for the “strong identity” he has given Inter, but claimed the Gunners are ready to bounce back from their recent difficulties as they want to prove they are “capable.” are to beat Inter”.

The Gunners suffered their second defeat in three Premier League rounds as they lost 1-0 away to Newcastle in what Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport described as their worst game of the season, with Arteta admitting he “absolutely “feels the pressure.

Arteta: Arsenal are in Milan ‘to try to win’, we’ll see how we ‘deal’ with Inter’s unpredictability.

“Absolutely, my blood is pumping,” he said at a pre-game press conference, as reported by TMW.

“We come to Milan to try to win. You played a Champions League final two years ago – these are the games you want to play.

“I think Inter have a strong identity and that is a credit to their coach.

“He knows how to position players in unpredictable ways. This is a challenge that we also face in the Premier League and we will see tomorrow how we deal with it.”

Arteta commented on the words of Simone Inzaghi, who named Arsenal among the Champions League favorites, and replied that his team had to “show it” against Inter first.

“I don’t know, every coach has their own ideas. We have to show tomorrow night that we are capable of beating them.”

The London club also suffered the resignation of its sporting director Edu Gaspar on Monday, and Arteta commented on the departure of one of his closest employees, with whom he had a “special chemistry”.

“Everything happened very quickly,” remarked Arsenal coach, quoted by Football London.

“I enjoyed working with him, I really enjoyed accompanying him on this incredible journey. I am very grateful for everything he has done for me and the football club.

“I think we both had a special chemistry. I am very blessed that he was part of my life and led this club.

“He’s now had a great opportunity to do something different in a different role. He feels like this is the best thing for him. We have to respect that. From the bottom of my heart I wish him the best.

“The plan and vision that begins with ownership will continue. We have a very strong leadership team and we will not stop now. The passion to make this journey happen will never end. That means opportunity for someone else. We say thank you and have to move on.”

Arsenal traveled to Milan with star Martin Odegaard in the squad for the first time since August as he returned from injury and Arteta will “decide” whether to use him against Inter tomorrow.

However, another key player, Declan Rice, surprisingly missed training on Tuesday and did not travel with the team as he was “not feeling well” after sustaining an injury against Newcastle.

“The positive news Martin, it’s great to have him back”

“He trained with us for the first time today. He’s a little earlier than expected. But it’s great to have him here and we’ll decide tomorrow whether to use him.

“Declan unfortunately picked up an injury against Newcastle. He made it to the finish and hasn’t been feeling well for the last few days. We have to assess him on Thursday and see if he is ready for Chelsea.”

Bukayo Saka will wear the captain’s armband again tomorrow and the Gunners coach explained that the admiration and “respect” people have for him means the England international is perfect for the role.

“Especially the way people look at him. People admire him, people respect him, they want to be by his side,” Arteta said.

“He has a special way of smiling. He is currently one of our leaders. He is one of our greatest players and our greatest talent. He has now earned this status in the team.”