The Italian glee about beating Arsenal was all the greater because Inter Milan had not, by any means, pulled out all the stops. Five key personnel were rested ahead of Sunday’s top of the table Serie A clash with Napoli and yet they were still worth their win. ‘It was a night of glory for Milan,’ Corriere della Serra declared here.
Arsenal have a big occasion of their own on Sunday afternoon, of course. It’s Stamford Bridge next. Mikel Arteta rested no one, flew out of Milan with nothing late on Wednesday, and when the dust settled on the 1-0 defeat, one sobering piece of data demonstrated how flair and creative sophistication have melted out of his team.