Inter Milan 1 – 0 Arsenal – Match report

A penalty in first-half stoppage time condemned us to our first Champions League defeat of the season.

Mikel Merino was penalized when the ball bounced up onto his arm and Hakan Calhanoglu scored from 12 yards – Inter’s only shot on target all night.

We had the better of the game from then on, but were frustrated by the home side, who are yet to concede in the competition this season.

Kai Havertz had our best chance but his shot went wide on a night when we couldn’t convert our possession into goals.

Early scare

On our first visit to the cathedral of football that is the Stadio San Siro since 2018, it was the hosts who started better.

They turned us around early on and right wing back Denzel Dumfries hit the crossbar within just two minutes, with David Raya beaten. A minute later, Calhanoglu had a shot just wide as he was given space 20 yards out.

We had an early storm to weather in a lively atmosphere and it wasn’t until we won our first corner after a quarter of an hour that we got a glimpse of the Italian champions’ goals.

Our second corner proved more dangerous. Bukayo Saka’s inswinger was deflected under his own crossbar by Yann Sommer.

The dual strike of Lautaro Martinez and Mehdi Taremi posed questions to our defence, however, and Gabriel had to show excellent recovery pace to catch up with the latter before making a timely intervention as the Iranian broke into the box.

We started to grow into the game. Saka cut into the box on his preferred left foot but did not generate enough power in his shot. It was the first attempt at goal, but either side, just before the half-hour mark.

Our delivery from set pieces caused problems and a cross from open play was taken by Mikel Merino’s head by Sommer’s flying fist. A penalty was appealed when the keeper collided with our Spanish midfielder as he cleared.

Punishment pain

We had settled down after some early nerves and every cross into the Inter box caused panic in the home defence.

But just as we looked to be taking some control of the game, we fell behind. Merino was unlucky to be penalized for a handball inside the area as the ball bounced up to him and Calhanoglu converted from 12 yards. It was the first goal we had conceded in this season’s Champions League and also the last kick of the half.

It was Merino’s final involvement of the evening, he was replaced at intervals by Gabriel Jesus.

Momentum builds

Gabriel Martinelli fired into the side netting and William Saliba couldn’t quite reach another searching corner as we started the second half positively.

After good work from Jesus, Saka saw his cross just flick away from the oncoming Havertz. His next cross, from a corner, was even closer – it was cleared off the line at the far post.

Havertz was next to try his luck, getting Sommer to back off to tip away his looping effort.

Inter looked to frustrate and disrupt play at every opportunity and defend their lead as we put them under more pressure.

Havertz then had a wonderful chance when the ball fell to him in a central position eight yards out. He reacted well to get his shot away but it deflected agonizingly wide.

On came Ethan Nwaneri and Oleksandr Zinchenko to try and salvage something from the game. We dominated possession, put Inter back but couldn’t force the breakthrough.

What’s next

Our UEFA Champions League campaign resumes at the end of the month away to high-flying Sporting Lisbon, but before then we have Premier League games away to Chelsea and then at home to Nottingham Forest, either side of the international break.