Arsenal’s unbeaten European run came to an end at San Siro on Wednesday night, as Hakan Calhanoglu’s penalty secured a 1-0 victory for Inter in the Champions League.
Despite dominating large periods of the match, Arsenal struggled to create clear-cut chances, with Gabriel Magalhaes’s header – cleared off the line in the second half – being their closest attempt.
Inter, meanwhile, made the most of a controversial penalty award on the stroke of half-time. Mehdi Taremi’s flick struck Mikel Merino’s arm, prompting the referee to point to the spot. Calhanoglu subsequently sent David Raya the wrong way, sealing the win.
The decision will have left Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta frustrated, particularly given Merino’s own penalty claim was ignored minutes earlier. The midfielder was punched in the head by Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer, but the referee remained unmoved.
The defeat marks Arsenal’s third loss in six games across all competitions, with the Gunners failing to score in each of those reversals. This latest setback will raise concerns about Arsenal’s attacking potency, ahead of their next European outing.
Image Credit: AFP
One Comment