Arsenal

Mikel Arteta was keen to take the positives from last night's defeat and issue a rallying cry before Sunday's visit to rivals Chelsea.

But, his Arsenal side are undeniably struggling and are on their worst run away from home for a year.

Things are unlikely to get easier quickly with games against high-flying Nottingham Forest and Manchester City-conquering Sporting Lisbon following their trip to Stamford Bridge.

The Gunners have lost three of their last six games in all competitions (W2 D1) - as many as in their previous 32 beforehand (W24 D5 L3).

Arteta's side have also lost successive away matches for the first time since November 2023 and are without a win in their last five away Champions League games (D2 L3). This is their longest winless run on the road in the competition since February 2005 (also 5).

It is important to remember defeat against Inter Milan does not bring the same jeopardy it would have done before this season's new Champions League format however. Arsenal still have seven points from their first four games and have a further four matches to move back up into the top eight automatic qualification places.

Image source, Getty Images

Right, we heard from Arwel earlier, questioning why Chris Sutton would call Aston Villa's recent dip in form a "tricky patch".

But what do Arsenal fans think about their downturn in results? Stick with us to find out...

Aston Villa

We will be looking in more detail a little later at what the latest Opta stats say about the chances each British club has of reaching the knockout stages of the Champions League.

After winning their first three games, Aston Villa's chances were high, but they could have taken a dip with that defeat at Club Brugge.

Remember, Villa are eighth after the latest round of fixtures, so in the final qualification spot to go straight through to the last 16.

If they finish 9th to 24th, Unai Emery's side will have to play an extra knockout play-off game to progress, while 25th or below will see them eliminated from the competition. Check the full table for more details.

Here are their next four games, including where each team is in the table:

• 27 Nov - Juventus 11th (h)
• 10 Dec - RB Leipzig 32nd (a)
• 21 Jan - Monaco 3rd (a)
• 29 Jan - Celtic 15th (h)

Image source, Getty Images

Aston Villa

There is no need to panic for Aston Villa after their first defeat in the Champions League this season as their three wins already mean they are still in a strong position within the top eight automatic qualification spots.

However, a heavy defeat to Spurs last weekend was proceeded by a disappointing Carabao Cup exit to Crystal Palace so things are not running perfectly smoothly at Villa Park.

Villa have now lost each of their last three games across all competitions, equalling their longest losing streak under Unai Emery (after three-game losing runs in February 2023 and May 2024).

Villa also recorded just one shot on target against Club Brugge - the fewest by an Emery side in a league/group phase game in the Champions League since November 2016, while in charge of Paris Saint-Germain (one against Arsenal).

Emery and his squad will have to regroup quickly because next up is a trip to Anfield to face league leaders Liverpool on Saturday (20:00 GMT)...

Image source, Getty Images

Chris Sutton
Former Premier League striker on Football Daily podcast

Aston Villa got what they deserved. They looked a tired team, a jaded team, things didn't click in the final third.

Overall their start to the Champions League has been excellent, but tonight was an opportunity for Aston Villa to make their life easy, in terms of qualification. They didn't do that, they have put themselves under a bit of pressure.

The games are not going to get any easier. They have got Juventus, Leipzig, Monaco and Celtic to come, so plenty of work to do.

The start of the season has been good, but this is a worrying little patch, with the loss against Crystal Palace to go out of the League Cup and the [4-1] loss at the weekend, although Tottenham can do that to anybody.

But it is more to do with the level of performance not being there, which is the worry for Unai Emery and Aston Villa.

I think the case with both Tyrone Mings and last season with Gabriel is that they hadn't realised that the ball was already in play. They'd assumed the keeper was giving them the ball to take the goal-kick, so then picked it up and placed it on the six-yard line to signify they were now taking the goal-kick (whereas, in fact, the goal-kick had already been taken by the keeper).

ICYMI, the Champions League continued with defeats for Arsenal and Aston Villa on Wednesday. You can catch up on all of this week's goals by clicking on the link below:

• Champions League highlights

Marc Albrighton
Former Leicester midfielder on the Football Daily podcast

The thing that impressed me the most was that, if [Inter Milan] did break forward and they lost [possession], they got numbers back so fast. The midfielders and the strikers - they all sprinted back to help get in that block.

And when the ball goes into the box, they dealt with it. They won the first contact, they won the second contact.

If anyone is looking to set up to play in that type of system and in that kind of way, that is a great lesson.

Matthew Upson
Former Arsenal defender on the Football Daily podcast

It's in the foundation of how [Inter Milan] play. They don't stray too far apart those three centre-backs. They stick together, they defend the width of the six-yard box.

The amount of headers, loose balls, anything like that, using their body, jumping into people.

They are not a fantastic team out of possession in terms of the structure when the ball is in the middle of the park. They don't really get after it too much.

They just sit so deep and defend that box really, really well. They pack it with bodies. All the midfield players are really tuned in and alert, ready for a loose ball.

Arsenal applied so much pressure, but they don't ever crack, Inter. They always see it through and they do it brilliantly.

Gary Rose
BBC Sport Journalist

Despite the defeat, there were still some positive signs that the Gunners will soon come out of this frustrating run of form.

There was the return of Martin Odegaard. The Arsenal captain has been out with an ankle injury since the end of August but came on for the final few minutes of stoppage time.

Odegaard's influence for Arsenal is clear, with the below table highlighting just how much more likely the Gunners are to win in the Premier League with him in their side compared to without him.

Image source, Opta

Without Odegaard Arsenal clearly miss a spark of creativity. Against Inter they fired 46 crosses into the box but none of them proved effective.

Gary Rose's analysis on Martin Odegaard's impact for Arsenal

Arsenal

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta was booked during Wednesday's defeat at Inter Milan after handling the ball while it was still in play.

Matthew Upson
Former Arsenal defender on the Football Daily podcast

I don't think they ran out of ideas, I just think Arsenal are a tiny bit one-dimensional at the moment. They have put a lot of focus on being more physical. Their set-plays and their corners are fantastic. The best chances they have are from corners. But from open play?

Julien Laurens
French football expert on BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast

It's a few defeats in a row now for [Arsenal]. They played well and they had 46 crosses, which is an incredible amount of crosses. They should have [scored] really, they had enough chances to get a point from Inter Milan, who scored a penalty that was a little bit harsh.

The second half was all Arsenal, they just could not break that defence. They defended really well, Inter. They put bodies on the line, they blocked everything. They were really good defensively. Arsenal played well but should have got more.

Image source, Getty Images