While Arsenal’s first XI have fended off almost every foe that has stood before them this term, it has been a different story for Mikel Arteta’s second-string players – as evidenced by Watford’s 4-2 win at London Colney earlier this month – but Lyon were outfought and outclassed against a reshuffled Gunners XI last week.
Arsenal are already in a strong position to lift the Dubai Super Cup, but the big one in the form of the Premier League remains the dream goal for the current leaders, who travel back to base after Tuesday’s game to meet Juventus at the Emirates next weekend.
Gabriel Magalhaes, Eddie qNketiah and Fabio Vieira all made the net ripple in the first half to give Arsenal a 3-0 victory on the day, and they earned the additional point in the four-team tournament by winning the penalty shootout 2-1, thanks in no small part to Karl Hein’s four saves from the spot.
A Boxing Day clash with West Ham United marks the return to Premier League action for an Arsenal side who will be five points clear of Manchester City at the top of the table on Christmas Day – the first time since the 2007-08 season that they occupy first place on December 25 – and a hefty chunk of their World Cup crop are now making their returns.
Across all competitive and non-competitive fixtures, Arsenal have recorded five wins from their last six matches in all competitions – keeping clean sheets in each victory – and pitting their wits against a reigning champion of one of Europe’s big five leagues would be a good indication of their Premier League title credentials.
Milan entered the World Cup break as they mean to go on with three wins and a draw from their four November fixtures, seeing them safely through to the last 16 of the Champions League – where Tottenham Hotspur lie in wait – and keeping them just about in the hunt for a second successive Scudetto.
However, runaway leaders Napoli hold an eight-point lead over the second-placed Rossoneri, who have taken a respectable 33 points from their opening 15 games of the season, but a myriad of injuries have bedevilled Stefano Pioli in recent months.
The Rossoneri’s final game before the World Cup break ended in a narrow 2-1 success over Fiorentina – their sixth win from their last eight competitive fixtures – and competitive action will not resume for the Rossoneri until the New Year as Serie A enjoys its winter hiatus.
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Milan will pit their wits against Liverpool on December 16 and PSV Eindhoven on December 30 before their first Serie A fixture of 2023 away to Salernitana on January 4 – and there is also the small matter of a Supercoppa Italiana showdown with Derby della Madonnina rivals Inter Milan on January 18.
The last three meetings between Arsenal and Milan have all gone in the Gunners’ favour, with Arsene Wenger’s men claiming a 5-1 aggregate win in the 2017-18 Europa League last 16 – and the two sides also played out a 1-1 draw in the 2010 Emirates Cup.Long-term knee victim
Gabriel Jesus and Emile Smith Rowe occupy places in the Arsenal treatment room at present, although the latter is still on track to return to action in the New Year following groin surgery. Oleksandr Zinchenko was absent against Lyon due to muscular tightness and may miss out here too.
