A lacklustre Arsenal side were condemned to their first Champions League defeat of the 2024-25 season as Inter Milan edged out Mikel Arteta's men 1-0 at San Siro.
In a tale of two penalties - one given, one not given - Hakan Calhanoglu stroked home the spot kick that was awarded, and as was the case against Newcastle United, the Gunners had all of the ball but no end product in the second half.
Following a shambolic start in which they nearly conceded in the opening minute - where Denzel Dumfries struck the bar - Arsenal slowly settled into a tetchy, stop-start game, albeit without giving Yann Sommer much to think about.
In fact, the goalkeeper's biggest scare came when he avoided giving away a penalty for inadvertently punching Mikel Merino in the head; his defenders were doing a sterling job of nullifying Arsenal's threat from set-pieces.
Merino was not having much luck in either box, as the 28-year-old then gave a penalty right on the cusp of half time for handball, which Calhanoglu clinically dispatched to propel the Italian champions into a slightly undeserved lead.
It did not take long for Arsenal to up the ante in the second half, but the visitors just could not find the key to unlock a rigid Inter defence, who repelled cross after cross - an astronomical 46 to be exact - and did not offer the Gunners a route through the middle either.
Captain Martin Odegaard made his long-awaited return from injury in second-half stoppage time, but it was too late for the Norwegian to save the day, and the rearguard mastery of Simone Inzaghi's men won out as Inter kept four straight Champions League/European Cup clean sheets for the first time ever.
As Arsenal mourn their unbeaten Champions League start and drop to 12th in the UCL table, Inter - who could afford to start the likes of Federico Dimarco, Marcus Thuram, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Nicolo Barella on the bench tonight - move into the top five, boasting 10 points from 12 as they try to stake their claim as dark horses for the crown.
INTER VS. ARSENAL HIGHLIGHTS
Hakan Calhanoglu goal vs. Arsenal (45+2 min, Inter 1-0 Arsenal)
Hakan Calhanoglu gives Inter Milan the lead from the spot 🎯
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) November 6, 2024
Arsenal might feel hard done by after the penalty was awarded for handball 🤚
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/kzA7Mm58sL
The best time for Inter to score, the worst time for Arsenal to concede. The Nerazzurri win a penalty as Mehdi Taremi flicks Calhanoglu's free kick onto the outstretched hand of Merino, and the referee points to the spot right away.
The Spaniard knew nothing about it, but the referee immediately points to the spot, and Calhanoglu coolly sends David Raya the wrong way to give the hosts the lead on the stroke of half time.
Nineteen penalties taken for Inter Milan, 19 scored from Calhanoglu. Very few better from 12 yards than the Turkish maestro.
MAN OF THE MATCH - YANN BISSECK
© IconSport
In truth, this award could have gone to any member of Inter's defensive contingent - including Dumfries - or the silky Calhanoglu, but Yann Bisseck put his body on the line more than once and was simply indestructible at the back.
The 23-year-old made a tremendous block to deny Kai Havertz what looked a certain goal - one of four he made on the evening - while also coming up with nine clearances and winning all four of his aerial battles in a flawless display.
INTER VS. ARSENAL MATCH STATS
Possession: Inter 37%-63% Arsenal
Shots: Inter 7-21 Arsenal
Shots on target: Inter 1-4 Arsenal
Corners: Inter 0-13 Arsenal
Fouls: Inter 12-21 Arsenal
BEST STATS
100% - Since he joined Inter (2021/22), Hakan Çalhanoglu has scored each of his 19 penalties taken in all competitions. In the period, among those who have scored 100% of penalties in the Big 5 European leagues (all comps), he has taken the most. Specialist.#UCL #InterArsenal pic.twitter.com/NbV5rYMQ9i
— OptaPaolo (@OptaPaolo) November 6, 2024
Hakan Çalhanoğlu has scored in back-to-back Champions League games for the first time in his career.💪 #UCL pic.twitter.com/eYTmdbAZnr
— Squawka Live (@Squawka_Live) November 6, 2024
WHAT NEXT?
Matchday four of the 2024-25 Champions League sees Inter face another intriguing San Siro tie, welcoming RB Leipzig to Milan on November 26, the same night that Arsenal travel to a Ruben Amorim-less Sporting Lisbon.
In terms of more immediate matters, the Gunners head to Chelsea on Sunday for their final Premier League fixture before the international break, while Inzaghi's men host Serie A leaders Napoli - managed by ex-Inter boss Antonio Conte - in a top-flight blockbuster.
Ben Knapton
