Arsenal’s Champions League Hopes Suffer Blow as Inter Milan Secure 1-0 Victory

Arsenal endured their second consecutive defeat in as many matches, falling 1-0 to Inter Milan at the San Siro in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday. A first-half penalty from Hakan Calhanoglu, who maintained his perfect record from the spot, proved to be the difference between the two sides. Despite a dominant second-half performance, the Gunners were unable to break down Inter’s resolute defense, leaving them with a mountain to climb in the group stage.

The match saw a stark contrast between the two sides’ fortunes. Inter dominated the first half with Calhanoglu’s penalty on the stroke of halftime the only real breakthrough. Arsenal, meanwhile, threw everything at the Italian side in the second half, registering 14 shots after the break, but they lacked the cutting edge to find an equalizer.

Calhanoglu’s spot-kick was awarded after a controversial handball decision against Arsenal midfielder Mikel Merino. The ball struck Merino’s arm following a flick-on from Mehdi Taremi, and despite protests from the Arsenal players, the referee, after a VAR check, pointed to the spot. Calhanoglu made no mistake, converting his 19th penalty in a row for Inter to give them a 1-0 lead.

The Gunners, however, were left frustrated by the officials. Manager Mikel Arteta voiced his displeasure after the match, particularly over the penalty decision and another incident involving Merino. The Arsenal boss felt his player had been unjustly penalized for a handball in a natural position, arguing that a similar incident in which Merino was allegedly punched in the head by Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer should also have been reviewed for a possible penalty.

“We were very harshly done by,” Arteta told TNT Sports. “If you are going to give a penalty for that, then the one on Mikel Merino when he was punched in the head has to be given as well. There’s no deflection, no unnatural movement. It’s very difficult to accept.”

While Arteta’s frustrations were understandable, his side’s inability to convert chances ultimately cost them. Despite having 46 crosses throughout the match and 14 second-half attempts, Arsenal lacked the creativity to break down Inter’s defense. Kai Havertz came closest to scoring, with his header being expertly saved by Inter’s Yann Sommer, while another Havertz effort was deflected just wide.

The loss means Arsenal remain outside the automatic Champions League qualification spots, with just seven points from their first four group games. They will now need to bounce back in their final two fixtures, facing tough opposition in the form of Real Madrid and Benfica.

The match highlighted the ongoing struggles Arsenal have been facing, particularly in the absence of key players like Declan Rice, who missed the match through injury. His absence was felt in midfield as Arsenal lacked the physicality and dynamism that has been a hallmark of their early season success. Despite a valiant second-half effort, the Gunners have now lost three of their last six matches in all competitions.

“It was a very difficult game,” Arteta reflected. “But I am proud of the performance, especially in the second half. We were the better team, but we have to learn how to convert chances. We are going through a tough period, but we need to bounce back quickly.”

The result in Milan continues a disappointing run for Arsenal, who have now lost back-to-back away matches for the first time since November 2023. The defeat also marked their fifth consecutive winless away game in the Champions League, dating back to last season, raising concerns over their ability to perform on the European stage.