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Over the last few weeks, there’s been a rather unusual discussion; “Which team is bigger - Arsenal or Inter?” Typically, such discussions involve teams within the same league, like the Premier League. So, it’s intriguing to see comparisons between two teams not traditionally seen as rivals. Now, it’s hard to weigh in on this seeing as it is a broad topic that leaves room for interpretation. I mean, what does it really mean for one team to be bigger than the other? Nevertheless, we’ll try to cover as much ground as we can.  

 

**Popularity with fans** 

The first category would be to determine which team is more popular among football fans, and this is straightforward. Fortunately, this is not a subjective opinion as there is a measurable metric - social media following. While acknowledging that not all fans are on social media, it offers a tangible sample size to gauge a club’s popularity. Currently, Arsenal is #10 on the list of Social Media followings with 104.1 million followers across multiple social media platforms. Inter is #13 on that list with 64.1 million, so we have our answer. Arsenal.  

**Club value** 

The second category, **club value,** is also easily quantifiable and hence, straightforward. According to the latest Forbes list ranking football clubs by their current values, Arsenal is #10 among football clubs, valued at $2.26 billion. At #16, Inter is significantly lower on the list, valued at $1.03 billion, less than half of Arsenal’s value. So, once again, **Arsenal** takes this. 

**Silverware** 

As we transition from off-pitch metrics to on-pitch achievements, the scales tip in favour of the Nerazzurri. When comparing trophies won, Inter holds the edge. Domestically, the Italians boast 19 Scudetto titles, 9 Coppa Italia titles, and 8 Supercoppa Italiana triumphs, while the Gunners have secured 13 League titles, 14 FA Cups, 2 EFL Cups, and 17 FA Community Shield wins, totalling 33 domestic titles for Arsenal and 36 for Inter. However, Inter’s dominance in the trophy count extends to Europe, which arguably serves as a fairer comparison since both teams compete in European competitions. Arsenal has only clinched one European trophy, the 1993/94 UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup. In contrast, Inter has secured 6 European trophies - 3 Champions League titles and 3 Europa League titles. They’re also the only Italian side to have won the treble, which they did in the 2009/10 season, and they have won two Intercontinental Cups and one FIFA Club World Cup. So, Inter takes this.  

**Battle of the legends** 

In terms of club legends, this gets really interesting. Both clubs share exceptional players, with notable mentions like Patrick Vieira. The former Gunners captain won 10 titles with Arsenal before joining Inter in the twilight of his career, where he added 4 more, including 3 consecutive Serie A titles. Another standout is Dutch icon Dennis Bergkamp, who dazzled at Ajax but faced challenges during his two seasons at Inter before finding his stride at Arsenal, where he became a club legend, immortalised with a statue outside the Emirates Stadium. And how can we forget our very own Nwankwo Kanu, a key member of the Nigeria national football team for over a decade? Just like Dennis Bergkamp, Kanu made the move from Ajax to Inter in the 90s. Sadly, a heart defect, which required a heart operation, disrupted his time in Italy. He would also move to Arsenal where he won multiple titles, and was a member of some incredible teams.  

**Who has the better G.O.A.T?** 

During the debate, two prominent names emerged as avatars for their respective fanbases: Thierry Henry for Arsenal and Ronaldo Nazário for Inter. While Ronaldo is undoubtedly one of the biggest names to have worn Inter’s jersey, his time at the club was marred by injuries which limited his impact. On the other hand, Thierry Henry’s legacy at Arsenal cannot be overstated. With 228 goals across all competitions, he stands as the club’s all-time leading scorer. Henry played a pivotal role in securing 5 titles for Arsenal, notably guiding them to an unbeaten Premier League season in 2003/04. His achievements include 4 Premier League Golden Boots and a place among the EPL top scorers of all time with 175 goals. In contrast, Ronaldo struggled with injuries during his 5 seasons at Inter, scoring just 49 league goals and playing only 17 league games in his last 3 seasons. He did however deliver one of the most breathtaking individual performances of the modern era when he led Inter to the UEFA Cup over Lazio in the 1998 final, providing a glimpse of what would have been if he had a healthy career. So, Thierry Henry takes this. 

Without the context of their Arsenal and Inter careers, though, it’s no question who the better striker was. While Thierry Henry is undeniably one of the greatest to grace the sport, Ronaldo is the greatest striker to play the beautiful game. His illustrious career includes two FIFA World Cup titles and two Copa America triumphs with Brazil, alongside many Golden Boot Awards. At the peak of his powers, Ronaldo was widely regarded as the best football player in the world, claiming three FIFA World Player of the Year awards. He also won two Ballon d’Or awards, including the 1997 accolade, making him the youngest player to receive the honour at just 21 years old. 

**Present-day comparison** 

Bringing the debate to the present day, both Arsenal and Inter are enjoying remarkable campaigns. Inter’s Serie A results have been impressive, highlighted by a series of stunning victories, including a notable 4-2 triumph over AS Roma and three consecutive 4-0 wins. With a commanding 12-point lead atop the table, Inter will lift the Scudetto come May.  

Meanwhile, Arsenal is having an equally impressive league campaign, though, in Liverpool and Manchester City, they have tougher opponents to contend with. They came close to winning the title last season and are expected to be in the title race till the final weekend. Though Manchester City remains overwhelming favourites, one of our betting tips is that, given Arsenal’s improved defense, as well as a healthy squad, they would have a higher finish than Liverpool.  

● EPL Winner Without Manchester City: Arsenal 

● EPL Golden Glove Winner: David Raya 

**Inzaghi vs Arteta** 

In the Champions League, these teams are expected to make deep runs. Manager Simone Inzaghi is a seasoned manager whose track record speaks for itself. He won 3 titles during his time in charge of Lazio, and since moving to Inter, has won two Coppa Italia titles, three Supercoppa Italiana and led the Nerazzurri to the Champions League final last season where they put up a valiant effort against Manchester City. Despite losing key players in the summer including Andre Onana, Milan Škriniar, and Marcelo Brozovic, he has Inter playing at an even higher level, and one of our football predictions is for them to reach the finals once again, provided they avoid Real Madrid and Manchester City before then.  

● Enjoy our bet of the day; bet on Inter to Reach the Champions League Final 

In Mikel Arteta, Arsenal has one of the brightest managers in football. A stubborn manager whose ruthlessness and unwillingness to compromise his principles can often rub people the wrong way, he finally won over a large section of the footballing community after his impressive title charge last season. Given Arteta’s limited track record, it is safe to say that Simone Inzaghi is the better manager now. However, Arteta has shown glimpses of his ability to deliver results when provided with time and resources. Given the opportunity to further develop and refine his managerial skills, Arteta has the potential to establish himself as one of the top managers in the game. 

**Possible UCL clash?** 

When Arsenal and Inter last clashed in the Champions League during the Group Stage of the 2003/04 season, they treated fans to unforgettable encounters. In their first meeting at Highbury, Inter were commanding 3-0 winners. All three of Inter’s goals were netted in the first half, while Thierry Henry missed a penalty for the Gunners. However, two months later at the San Siro, Arsenal exacted sweet revenge. Thierry Henry had one of his finest performances in an Arsenal jersey, scoring twice and providing two assists as the Gunners secured a resounding 5-1 victory, leaving the Inter crowd stunned.  

If the two teams both qualify from this stage of the UCL, there’s a chance they can be drawn to face each other on the 15th of March. Here’s hoping these two meet again this season, 20-years later, and deliver another set of classics.  

So, what do you think? On current form, which team is better? Let us know in the comment section! 

With the two European giants among the most dominant Football clubs in Europe right now, we examine which is the bigger club. Who're you backing?

Betting Tips

Arsenal vs. Inter; Which Is The Bigger Club?

● EPL Winner Without Manchester City: Arsenal

● EPL Golden Glove Winner: David Raya

● Enjoy our bet of the day; bet on Inter to Reach the Champions League Final