London, Sept 19: Inter Milan opened their Champions League campaign in style Wednesday night by inflicting a humiliating 3-0 defeat on Arsenal at Highbury in Group B.
Julio Ricardo Cruz gave them a 21st-minute lead, Andy Van Der Meyde added another three minutes later and, after Arsenal's Thierry Henry missed a penalty, Obafemi Martins made it 3-0 before the break. Inter showed the scintillating form which took them to last season's Champions League semi-finals, ripping Arsenal's defence to shreds at will and then defending with both discipline and aggression.
In a group which also includes the less-fancied Dynamo Kiev and Lokomotiv Moscow, the Italians' victory clearly set them on course for a place in the knockout stages.

For Arsenal, let down by wretched passing in the final third and failing to make any serious impression on the Italian rearguard, their sixth consecutive Champions League campaign already looks like a race for the runners-up slot.



Last season's failure to win any of their home games in the second group stage cost them a place in the quarter-finals and it looks as if they will again need to perform well in some difficult-looking away games if they are to progress.



Their defence was tormented by the electrifying pace of Nigerian striker Martins while, despite plenty of possession, the much-vaunted attack simply bounced off Inter's well-drilled rearguard.


Bureau Report