Calhanoglu’s controversial spot-kick gives Inter victory against Arsenal | Champions League

Mikel Arteta’s problems continue to mount. In the week they were rocked by the surprise resignation of sporting director Edu, Arsenal surrendered their unbeaten record in the Champions League after Hakan Calhanoglu maintained his record by never missing a penalty for Inter to score the only goal in a close game. .

It was a frustrating occasion for Arteta, who was booked for handball in the second half and came close to being sent to the stands as his side searched for an equaliser. But despite a much-improved second-half display, where the visitors won 13 corners to Inter’s none, they sank to a second consecutive 1-0 away defeat.

Arsenal’s last visit to face Inter in this cavernous arena almost 21 years ago resulted in one of the most famous European nights in their history, with Edu starting in midfield alongside Ray Parlor as Arsène Wenger’s side recorded a memorable 5- 1 win that was rounded off. of a brilliant solo goal from Thierry Henry. Having failed to win any of their last three Premier League games, a return to continental action was welcomed by Arteta as “the kind of game that gets my blood pumping” and he would have been pleased to name Martin Ødegaard as a replacement after the captain missed 12 games due to an ankle injury.

In the absence of Declan Rice, Thomas Partey returned to a central midfield role, while Ben White was able to start in a first-choice back four that had yet to concede a goal in the Champions League after three games. Inter had also picked up three clean sheets but had scored two more goals than their opponents to sit just above them in the table. Their manager, Simone Inzaghi, rested five key players for their win over Venezia on Sunday, including Calhanoglu and Mehdi Taremi, and they were restored to the starting line-up here.

Inzaghi had stated that his side would aim to keep possession to nullify Arsenal’s attacking threat, but it was the Italian champions who took the initiative. Just under 100 seconds had passed when Denzel Dumfries hammered a shot onto David Raya’s crossbar before Calhanoglu fired just wide from distance.

Arsenal struggled to find their rhythm and it took a timely intervention from Gabriel Magalhães to cut out Taremi’s dangerous low ball into the area. The Brazilian defender was cautioned for shoving over Inter captain Lautaro Martínez as Arsenal prepared to take their first corner. Arteta took the opportunity of a break in play to deliver some instructions to Jurrien Timber and Gabriel Martinelli, presumably in an attempt to quell the danger at Dumfries.

Martinelli was able to make the most of some excellent play from Bukayo Saka before the stand-in captain registered Arsenal’s first shot on target in the 27th minute after cutting in from the right flank. A vicious cross from Martinelli was then inches away from connecting with Mikel Merino’s forehead, with the Spaniard receiving a blow to the head as Yann Sommer broke free, but VAR did not require the referee to review the incident.

Despite all their earlier efforts, Inter had yet to test Raya, but their opportunity came momentarily in stoppage time when the Romanian referee awarded Merino a penalty after the ball hit his arm from Taremi’s volley from point-blank range. There was little the Spanish midfielder could have done about it as Calhanoglu – to Arteta’s anger – stroked home from the spot to give the hosts the lead.

It proved to be Merino’s last act of the night as he was replaced by Gabriel Jesus in the second half as Kai Havertz dropped into midfield. Arsenal looked determined to find a way back into the game as Martinelli fired into the side netting before William Saliba mistimed his jump from a corner as the goal was wide open. They almost scored from their next corner when Gabriel won a header at the near post but Dumfries were able to clear off the line.

Ødegaard watched intently as he warmed up on the touchline, although it was Inter who brought fresh legs to their feet with a triple substitution just after the hour mark. Arteta then received a bizarre yellow card for picking up the ball while it was still on the pitch, with Inter awarded a free-kick. The referee gave the Arsenal manager a final warning minutes later when he protested another decision as his frustration boiled over. Havertz had a golden opportunity to equalize when Leandro Trossard’s cross found its way to the German eight yards out, but his effort was poor, allowing Yann Bisseck to make a timely block.

Arteta first turned to his teenager Ethan Nwaneri for inspiration before Ødegaard was introduced in added time. But Inter’s defense remained rock solid as they tuned up for this weekend’s top-flight clash with Napoli here with another clean sheet. For Arsenal, who travel across London to face Chelsea on Sunday, it was another bitter pill to swallow.