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Arsenal’s Champions League credentials will be undeniable with Inter win
There is a point in every would-be title season when talk hardens into belief, when optimism stops sounding like hope and starts resembling evidence. For Arsenal, that moment is looming on 20 January.
Top of both the Premier League and their Champions League group as the competition resumes, Mikel Arteta’s side already look like a team built for longevity rather than flirtation. Beat Inter – and beat them well – and the argument shifts from whether Arsenal can win the Champions League to why they shouldn’t.
Domestic form has laid the groundwork. Arsenal’s position at the summit of the Premier League is no accident of fixtures or fortune.
They have combined control with incision, marrying the defensive authority that Arteta has spent years cultivating with a front line now comfortable deciding games early rather than scrambling late.
The title drought still hangs over the club like an accusation, but this version of Arsenal feels less haunted by past failures and more driven by present clarity.
Europe has followed the same pattern. Arsenal haven’t merely progressed in the Champions League; they have looked at ease there. The group stage has thus far been navigated with the assurance of a side that understands game states, tempo and when to apply pressure.
That matters because the Champions League does not reward romanticism. It rewards structure, adaptability and the ability to impose identity against unfamiliar opposition. Arsenal have done all three.Getty Images
Which is why Inter matter. Serie A leaders, seasoned, unapologetically pragmatic and tactically exacting, Inter represent the kind of opponent Arsenal would have struggled to unpick in previous campaigns.
This is not a glamorous benchmark; it is a brutally honest one. Inter will sit in their shape, test Arsenal’s patience and dare them to force the issue without losing their own. That is precisely the examination Arsenal need.
A convincing win would say more than any domestic victory could. It would show that Arsenal’s control travels, that their midfield authority can withstand European cunning, and that their attackers can solve problems without chaos.
(C)Getty Images
It would also underline Arteta’s evolution from talented organiser to elite tournament manager, capable of preparing his team for opponents who exist to disrupt rhythm.
There will still be louder favourites, clubs with deeper European scars and shinier cabinets. But credibility is built through moments, not reputation.
Arsenal are already leading races at home and abroad. Beat Inter, and the Champions League conversation changes tone entirely. It stops being about promise and starts sounding suspiciously like inevitability.
Full Champions League fixture list for Matchday 7
Tuesday, 20 January
- Kairat Almaty vs. Club Brugge
- Bodo/Glimt vs. Manchester City
- Copenhagen vs. Napoli
- Inter vs. Arsenal
- Olympiakos vs. Bayer Leverkusen
- Real Madrid vs. Monaco
- Sporting vs. PSG
- Tottenham vs. Borussia Dortmund
- Villarreal vs. Ajax
Wednesday, 21 January
- Galatasaray vs. Atletico Madrid
- Qarabag vs. Eintracht Frankfurt
- Atalanta vs. Athletic Club
- Bayern Munich vs. Union Saint-Gilloise
- Chelsea vs. Pafos
- Juventus vs. Benfica
- Marseille vs. Liverpool
- Newcastle United vs. PSV
- Slavia Prague vs. Barcelona
How to watch the Champions League in the USA on DAZN
Soccer fans in the US can watch the Champions League in Spanish language as part of their DAZN subscription package.
An annual upfront payment is $224.99 , while paying monthly for 12 months is $19.99 and also provides access to 185 fight nights a year across boxing, MMA, PFL, BKFC, Glory and much more.
CBS has coverage of every Champions League match in English language this season. You can get more details and subscribe to CBS's Champions League coverage here.
Fans can watch extra Champions League games in Spanish on ViX. A selection of those matches are also available on UNIMÁS and TUDN.
How to watch the Champions League in New Zealand on DAZN
Every Champions League game during the 2025-26 season is streamed in high definition and comes as part of a DAZN subscription.
An annual subscription costs $14.99 per month for 12 months and also provides access to 185 fight nights a year across boxing, MMA, PFL, BKFC, Glory and much more.
How to watch the Champions League in Canada on DAZN
Watch every game of the Champions League this season in Canada with a DAZN subscription.
There are three subscription options, each offering a different selection of sports. Access to every Champions League match is included in all three package offerings, ranging from $29.99 to $44.99 per month (for 12 months)
