Arsenal suffered their second consecutive loss as Inter Milan emerged victorious with a narrow 1-0 triumph at the storied San Siro stadium in the Champions League, courtesy of a first-half penalty converted by Hakan Calhanoglu.
Under the management of Mikel Arteta, Arsenal traveled to Italy missing key midfielder Declan Rice due to an injury. Rice’s absence was a significant setback for the Gunners, who were also preparing for an upcoming Premier League showdown against Chelsea following a disappointing defeat at Newcastle. His missing presence was palpable on the field, contributing to Arsenal’s struggles to secure a positive result in European competition for the first time this season.
The match’s sole goal originated from an unfortunate moment involving Arsenal’s midfielder Mikel Merino. Merino inadvertently committed a handball, resulting in a penalty being awarded. Despite the handball, Merino had little opportunity to move his arm out of the way of Mehdi Taremi’s precise flick, making the penalty decision a subject of debate. Many pundits suggested that a similar incident might not have warranted a penalty in the Premier League, highlighting potential inconsistencies in refereeing decisions across different competitions.
Adding to the frustration, Merino expressed his belief that he should have been awarded a penalty earlier in the first half. He contended that Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer made unnecessary contact with his head while attempting to clear Gabriel Martinelli’s cross. However, the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) deemed that there was insufficient evidence to overturn the original decision made on the field, leaving Merino and the Arsenal camp feeling aggrieved.
This defeat marks Arsenal’s first loss in European competitions this season, underscoring the challenges they face in the absence of key players and the impact of critical moments that can determine the outcome of closely contested matches. As Arsenal looks ahead to their Premier League encounter with Chelsea, the team will need to address these setbacks and find ways to overcome similar obstacles to regain their winning momentum.
