Calhanoglu penalty condemns misfiring Arsenal to first league phase loss

Inter ended Arsenal’s unbeaten starting up to the UEFA Champions League with a 1-0 win at the San Siro thanks to Hakan Calhanolgu’s penalty on the verge of half-time.

The Turkish global stroked his position-kick down the center after Mikel Merino was judged to maintain handled the ball inner the location in stoppage time of the outlet duration.

Mikel Arteta’s side struggled to form one thing else clear-decrease against a resolute Inter defence but came closest to equalising when Mehdi Taremi’s defensive header from a nook was cleared off the line by personnel-mate Denzel Dumfries.

The two aspects maintain been stage on points coming into this night having picked up two wins and a draw from their opening three fixtures.

The defeat sees Arsenal’s unbeaten starting up in the competition attain to an discontinue as they plug to 12th position, but they’ll like to look Martin Odegaard invent a leisurely replace appearance following his long-term absence by afflict.

Meanwhile, Inter’s undefeated starting up continues as they proceed up to fifth. Remarkably, they’re mute yet to concede having kept a orderly sheet of their opening four ties.

Arsenal maintain been given an early let-off by Simone Inzaghi’s males inner two minutes when Dumfries rattled the crossbar after bringing the ball down in the location and unleashing with the starting up air of his upright foot.

After being dominated for the outlet ten minutes, the Gunners grew into the game and threatened with a series of unsafe corners from Bukayo Saka, but created nothing of uncover in the outlet forty five.

With the 2 groups yet to concede in the competition heading into the match, 0-0 seemed an unsurprising scoreline upright sooner than the break. However the script was ripped up as the referee awarded a doubtful position-kick.

Taremi’s flick on from Calhanolgu’s free-kick with out a doubt struck the arm of Merino, however it was in such terminate vicinity that the chance would per chance no longer maintain been given in the Premier League.

Calhanoglu esulta per il gol in Inter-Arsenal – Champions League 2024/2025

Image credit rating: Getty Photographs

Arsenal appeared extra unsafe in the 2nd half with Yann Bisseck producing a mighty block to speak Kai Havertz to add to the sooner defensive heroics of Dumfries on the unbiased-line.

The Gunners persevered to ship in a barrage of crosses but maintain been lacking the blueprint man to invent them count, whereas Odegaard’s introduction in stoppage time was too puny too leisurely in relation to injecting some creativity.

Up next for Arsenal is a day out to Stamford Bridge to take care of Chelsea, who sit stage on points with them in the Premier League. Their next European sport is a seek suggestion from to Wearing, the build Manchester City conceded four on Tuesday.

Inter, meanwhile, take care of Napoli in a mouth-watering clash at the top of Serie A on Sunday, whereas their next Champions League tie comes in the gain of a seek suggestion from from mute-pointless RB Leipzig.

While Mikel Arteta can be relieved to look the return of Odegaard, he’ll be troubled by the extra evidence of Arsenal’s reliance on the midfielder to form goalscoring opportunities.

Since the 25-yr-used’s afflict whereas on global accountability in September, the Gunners maintain repeatedly appeared devoid of tips in the supreme third with a seeming reliance on location-pieces.

This night’s defeat marks the 2nd successive sport by which they’ve been kept out by their opponent following their 1-0 defeat away to Newcastle on Saturday.

While Arteta’s males maintain been with out a doubt the beneficiaries of effective location-pieces closing season, they’ve lacked the ingenuity and slick passing in and spherical the box in contemporary weeks that additionally contributed to their title price.

With a day out to Stamford Bridge on Sunday, Arsenal can be hoping Odegaard can rapid win his feet to prevent a doubtless ten-point gap forming from Premier League leaders Liverpool.

In a sport of somewhat few possibilities it was Calhanolgu’s quality that made the difference. It was his free-kick that led to the penalty which he stepped up to coolly convert.

Besides the penalty his quality of passing and studying of the game was instrumental in relieving stress on Inter leisurely on and allowing them to skills spells of possession to withhold a stage of withhold an eye on.

Inter Milan: Sommer 7, Pavard 6, De Vrij 7, Bisseck 7, Dumfries 7, Frattesi 6, Zielinksi 6, Calhanoglu 8*, Darmian 6, Taremi 6, Martinez 7. Subs: Asllani 5, Mhikitaryan 7, Dimarco 5, Barella 6, Thuram 7.

Arsenal: Raya 6, White 5, Saliba 5, Gabriel 6, Bushes 6, Merino 5, Partey 5, Havertz 6, Saka 7, Trossard 6, Martinelli 6. Subs: Jesus 6, Nwaneri 6, Odegaard N/A, Zinchenko 6.

59′ – ARSENAL EFFORT CLEARED OFF THE LINE: Saka’s nook is centered to the attain post and it will get a flick on by Inter’s Taremi but Dumfries is there at the again post to invent a valuable unbiased-line clearance.

forty five+4′ – GOAL! INTER MILAN 1-0 ARSENAL (CALHANOGLOU): After a look forward to VAR to test for a doubtless offside, Calhanoglou strokes his penalty down the center as Raya dives to the upright.

forty five+2′ – PENALTY FOR INTER: The free-kick from Calhanoglou is flicked on by the heel of Taremi and strikes the arm of Merino and a penalty is given. That is a harsh one with Merino so terminate to the Inter forward.

3′ – INTER RATTLE THE BAR: Inter’s two strikers mix sooner than Taremi finds Dumfries at the again post. He controls it sooner than hanging with the starting up air of his foot and his effort rattles the crossbar. Early let-off for the Gunners!