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

Arsenal

Bukayo Saka thanked a reporter for his "nice words" after praising Saka for bouncing back after missing a penalty in the shootout of the Euro 2020 final and becoming a key man for England and Arsenal.

Marc Albrighton
Former Leicester midfielder on the Football Daily podcast

It will be a massive lift for Arsenal to have Martin Odegaard back.

Probably more since he has been out of the team, I feel there has been a lot of onus on Bukayo Saka out wide. They are trying to get the ball out to him so often. At every opportunity, getting it out wide, one v one and find that final pass.

I think Inter played so well, they doubled up on [Saka] and forced him inside into the numbers. Even when he did manage to stand up a cross to the back post, Denzel Dumfries was superb all night at that back post, defending there, along with the three centre-halves.

It was [Arsenal's] gameplan to get the ball out to [Saka], but they didn't seem to have anything anywhere else on the pitch.

Matthew Upson
Former Arsenal defender on the Football Daily podcast

I cast my mind back to seeing Arsenal play [earlier in the season] - those little triangles that they would develop, on the corner of the 18-yard box, when they'd get teams penned in, then they would move it quickly with Odegaard and Rice - two players that obviously aren't available at the moment - and Saka and Trossard on the overlaps.

When they are flying and in a rhythm and can score with a set-piece or they can cut you open with that quick passing around the box, they are phenomenal.

For me, they could give anyone a game. But they have just lost that side of their game a little bit. It is not as prevalent as it was before.

It has become a little bit more one-dimensional, which allowed Inter to showcase their defensive skills because it played into what they are good at. It just needed something a little bit different.

I thought it was a really good performance in terms of spirit, physicality, attitude. They didn't give up, they kept probing, they were slinging balls into the box all night.

It was just a bit one-dimensional, would be my only criticism.

Arsenal

There was some pretty damning reaction to Wednesday's defeat from Arsenal fans getting in touch with BBC Sport:

Another fully deserved loss. Two in the space of a week. Impotent in the attack. Waiting until the 82nd minute to finally bring Nwaneri on was an absolute joke. Another truly frustrating watch as an Arsenal fan tonight. - Nick

Arteta's project? is over. It's finished Mikel. You ain't motivating anybody. Time to go. The team have stopped playing for the manager. Edu Gaspar has gone. Something has happened inside the club. We are nothing like we were last season. - Steve

Good riddance Edu Gaspar. Our failure to sign an attacker over the last three years has been the difference between us becoming one of the most successful sides in football history, or being football's nearly men. A lack of investment means we are firmly in the latter camp. - Lee

Why is Arteta so slow to make substitutions? Slot on Tuesday made such timely subs that changed the game. - Amanda

Arsenal are devoid of ideas. As an Arsenal fan for 30 years, it’s frustrating to see a team so absent of attacking intent in recent times. Arteta has this season but with the lack of discipline and ideas and Edu walking away, I’d be struggling to see how he’d keep the job after this season if another year of no silverware. - Ryan

If you agree, or have a more positive outlook on Arteta's project than any of the contributors above, then do get in touch via all the usual channels.

#bbcfootball, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)

Image source, Getty Images

The Guardian

Finally from today's newspapers, the Guardian leads on Arsenal "paying the penalty" as Inter Milan "hold off Gunners after harsh handball call".

Image source, Guardian