Not the best in Europe: Inter Milan star delivers brutal view on Arsenal's status
Inter Milan defender Manuel Akanji has shared his thoughts on Arsenal ahead of their Champions League meeting at the San Siro.
The Swiss defender believes Arsenal are one of the strongest sides in Europe, but stopped short of calling them the best team on the continent.
Arsenal travel to Italy to face Inter Milan in a key group stage clash, with the Gunners aiming to keep their unbeaten run intact.
The north London side have impressed so far in the competition and currently sit top of the league after six matches.
They have collected 18 points, scored 17 goals, and conceded just once, underlining their strong form in Europe this season.
Speaking before the match, Akanji admitted that Arsenal deserve respect based on their recent performances and overall quality.
However, the defender made it clear that he does not see Mikel Arteta’s side as the outright best team in Europe.
He said: “I think Arsenal are among the best teams in Europe. For me they’re not the very best, but they are certainly among the top sides, so it will be a great challenge, but we’re ready.”
Akanji explains Arsenal’s strong progress
The defender was also asked to give his view on what has driven Arsenal’s progress across competitions this season.
While admitting he does not closely follow many matches, the defender still highlighted key areas behind their improvement.
He added: “I don’t watch much football because I have three children at home, but that said, they have a very deep squad with a lot of quality and they’ve shown consistency, which is crucial if you want to compete on multiple fronts.”
Arsenal have shown control in Europe, managing games well and limiting opponents to very few clear chances.
Inter ready for tough San Siro test
For Arsenal, the fixture offers another chance to measure themselves against elite European opposition.
For Inter, it is an opportunity to prove they can compete with one of the strongest sides in the competition.
Both teams head into the match knowing that small details could decide the outcome on the night.
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