Marc Albrighton
Former Leicester midfielder on the Football Daily podcast

I actually think I am a fan of it - this new system. I don't know whether that is down to the fact that Villa are my team and it is their first season back in - apart from tonight they are flying high.

I do actually like it. It gives you a chance to play [different] teams. You haven't got a group of death, like you would usually have, when one massive team that is going to go out of that group.

I just think it gives an opportunity to go and see some of these other teams as well that people might not think much about.

There are a lot of teams in countries where people don't watch that football, but have actually got good quality. In the Europa League and Conference League there are actually some really good footballing sides. I think that is why it is important that the Champions League sees that as well.

Matthew Upson
Former Arsenal defender on the Football Daily podcast

Everyone seems to be playing Young Boys when I turn the TV on!

It's hard to tell whether it is going to be good or bad - [the new extended league format] is a lot more preparation for the players and the staff because you are playing different teams all the time.

You normally get used to a team - you play them away then you have them at home. You get into that rhythm.

Image source, Getty Images

John Murray
BBC Radio 5 Live chief football correspondent

One of my chief concerns is that for the paying members of the public, who are trying to get used to this table.

Particularly when it comes to the sharp end of this, on that last night in January when everyone is playing at the same time, goals are going to be going in all over the place, teams are going to be going up and down the table and the people who are actually watching the match [in the grounds], watching their team, won't know [what is going on].

The wifi in here tonight [for Inter Milan v Arsenal] is terrible and no-one can get a phone signal. No-one is going to be able to look up and down the table because they can't get the table up.

Right, let's have another show of thumbs.

Thumbs up if you are for the new Champions League format, thumbs down if you are against.

Image source, Getty Images

John Murray
BBC Radio 5 Live chief football correspondent

It's interesting because it is new. I am open-minded about it, but there are a lot of things I don't like.

It's become a bit of a thing to say the groups of four were predictable - some of the groups of four were predictable, but some were not.

My feeling is that people find it easier to cope with a group of four teams playing each other home and away and you know how it is.

I think it is so big that is is a little overwhelming and I am still not absolutely sold [on it].

This is my first experience of being involved in a format like this - when you have a league where not everyone plays each other. I am yet to be convinced that the way the fixtures have come out are entirely fair for everyone.

The initial reaction to the question of whether you would want Simone Inzaghi's brand of football at your club seems to be largely negative, with a far greater number of thumbs down.

So is that a question of preferring style over substance? Inzaghi's domestic trophy haul with Inter is pretty impressive, and they pushed Manchester City close in the 2023 Champions League final.

Right, let's move on to another contentious debate, the new Champions League format...

Matthew Upson
Former Arsenal defender on the Football Daily podcast

Simone Inzaghi just kind of oozes Italian football. He did as a player and now as a coach.

He is so emotional and animated on the touchline. The gestures and the hand movements. He gets very fiery over something that looks very little. That's his style and it just fits here brilliantly.

Would a club [in England] really want to adopt that style? You have to come to the answer that there are certain clubs that just need to win something.

Eventually, people would get behind it, but the pressure is that you have got to win, there is no option. If you are going to play like that and not win anything then it is not going to go down well.

It was a question that arose from the fact Inter Milan had kept four consecutive clean sheets at the start of this season's Champions League - the first time the club had ever done that in top-flight European competition.

And remember, those games also included a goalless draw at Manchester City.

Wins followed at home to Red Star Belgrade (4-0) and at Young Boys (1-0) before their latest success against Arsenal at the San Siro, which moved Inzaghi's side up to fifth in the Champions League table.

John Murray
BBC Radio 5 Live chief football correspondent

Image source, Getty Images

Simone Inzaghi was asked about whether he would consider, and has he had the opportunity, to coach in the Premier League, to which he said he has had offers - when he was at Lazio and indeed here at Inter.

The question is, were he to bring this style of football - and it would be a top club that he would coach in the Premier League - how would people feel about that?

Thumbs up if you would be happy for Inzaghi to manage your club, thumbs down if you wouldn't.

A couple of questions arose from the discussion surrounding Arsenal's defeat at Inter Milan in the latest edition of the Football Daily podcast.

Namely:

• How would Simone Inzaghi's style of football go down in the Premier League?
• What do you think of the new Champions League format?

Before we look at how the new Champions League format is coming along and who might qualify for the next stage, you can catch up on how everyone got on over the latest matchday by clicking on the link below to see all of this week's goals:

• Champions League highlights

Marc Albrighton
Former Leicester midfielder on the Football Daily podcast

By any means, it is not panic stations for Arsenal. They have still got good quality all over the pitch. They have got a good squad with young players coming through as well.

Yes, it is going to be a tough game at the weekend, obviously Chelsea are flying high at the minute as well so it doesn't make it any easier, but I still feel like they have enough.

I feel Mikel Arteta seems the sort of manager who can regroup the side and get them back there, but the games are coming thick and fast. They probably need a week between games to regroup, get the feelgood factor back in training, but they are not going to get that, so it is difficult.

Alex Howell
BBC football news reporter

It was another frustrating night for Arsenal as they lost to Inter Milan in the Champions League.

The Gunners had not conceded a goal in the competition until the penalty which meant they lost the match last night.

The new expanded competition means that the defeat to Inter is not as damaging as it might have been previously for Arsenal.

However, the manner of the defeat and the performances raises questions for Arteta.

It's back-to-back 1-0 defeats now and follows on just a couple of weeks after the 2-0 loss to Bournemouth in the Premier League.

Arsenal, in the last couple of seasons especially, have played with a level of control in their play, meaning they have seen out tight games when they have needed a result.

They have been hampered with injuries and the loss of Martin Odegaard in recent weeks has highlighted just how important he is to the team.

Image source, Getty Images

Arsenal

So how does the bigger picture look for Arsenal?

Without a win in their last three Premier League games, Mikel Arteta's side have slipped to fifth in the table and are already seven points behind early leaders Liverpool.

A trip to Stamford Bridge on Sunday (16:30 GMT) is next up with Enzo Maresca's team also on 18 points but fourth on goal difference. Given the two teams' respective expectations at the start of the season, defeat against their London rivals would increase the pressure on a team enduring a difficult period.

Arteta will hope to have Declan Rice available after he missed last night's defeat to Inter Milan with a knock and could utilise captain Martin Odegaard from the start in West London after he returned from injury as a late substitute in the San Siro.

Image source, Getty Images

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