"Arsenal Doesn’t Have a Striker Like That": Lukas Podolski Points Out Key Difference Ahead of Inter Milan Match

Arsenal will face a big test in the Champions League when they play Inter Milan at the San Siro stadium on Wednesday night. So far, the Gunners have done well in the Champions League and are still unbeaten. But even though they’ve had success in Europe, Mikel Arteta’s team is eager to get another positive result against this strong Italian team.

This match comes at an important time for Arsenal, as they’re trying to recover from a recent loss to Newcastle United in the Premier League. That defeat hurt their chances in the title race and also lowered the team’s confidence. Defender William Saliba admitted that the team felt down after that loss. Now, this Champions League game is a chance for Arsenal to get back on track, though they know that Inter Milan will be a tough opponent.

Former player Lukas Podolski, who played for both Arsenal and Inter Milan, shared his thoughts on the difference between the two teams. Podolski, who played 82 games and scored 31 goals for Arsenal from 2012 to 2015, briefly played for Inter on loan. According to him, one key difference is that Arsenal lacks a true center-forward like Inter Milan’s Marcus Thuram.

“I’d say Thuram. Arsenal doesn’t have a striker like that. They have Havertz, but he’s not a typical number 9,” Podolski said.

This difference matters because Thuram has been in excellent form lately, scoring eight goals in his last 13 games for Inter. With Thuram leading their attack, Inter has a strong advantage with a powerful goal-scorer—something Arsenal might be missing.

Although he pointed out Arsenal’s lack of a pure striker, Podolski also complimented Arteta’s tactical style. He praised the way Arteta sets up the team to play and said it makes Arsenal’s style exciting to watch.

“Inter has its own well-known style with Inzaghi. But if I had to choose a style that really draws me in, it would be Arteta’s. I love the way Arteta’s ideas come to life on the field,” Podolski explained.

This shows how much Arteta has built a recognizable and entertaining style of play for Arsenal. However, while Arsenal is skilled at passing and creating plays, the lack of a classic striker could make it harder for them to finish scoring chances, especially against a well-organized team like Inter Milan.

Arteta and his team likely know that Inter Milan will come prepared with a defensive, cautious approach. Earlier this season, Inter used a solid defense to keep Manchester City to a 0-0 draw by playing in a low-block formation, which means they focus on defending deep and preventing the opponent from getting through easily.

With Arsenal’s recent struggles to score, facing a strong defense like Inter’s could be challenging. Inter will likely try to absorb Arsenal’s pressure and then counter-attack quickly, using Thuram’s speed and strength to cause problems for Arsenal’s defense.

This game is important for Arsenal, not only to stay unbeaten in the Champions League but also to boost their confidence after the Newcastle loss. A strong result would show that they can bounce back from setbacks and are ready to compete with Europe’s best. But they’ll need to be cautious, as Inter is skilled at breaking up their opponent’s momentum.

For Arsenal, this match is a chance to show they belong at the top of European football. Arteta will likely encourage quick, sharp passing to break down Inter’s defense. Players like Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus will need to lead Arsenal’s attacks, and the defense will have to be ready for Inter’s counter-attacks.