Calhanoglu penalty condemns misfiring Arsenal to first league phase loss

Inter ended Arsenal’s unbeaten start 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 international stroked his spot-kick down the middle after Mikel Merino was judged to have handled the ball inside the area in stoppage time of the opening period.

Mikel Arteta’s side struggled to create anything clear-cut against a resolute Inter defence but came closest to equalising when Mehdi Taremi’s defensive header from a corner was cleared off the line by team-mate Denzel Dumfries.

The two sides were level on points coming into this evening having picked up two wins and a draw from their opening three fixtures.

The defeat sees Arsenal’s unbeaten start in the competition come to an end as they slip to 12th spot, but they will be delighted to see Martin Odegaard make a late substitute appearance following his long-term absence through injury.

Meanwhile, Inter’s undefeated start continues as they move up to fifth. Remarkably, they are still yet to concede having kept a clean sheet in their opening four ties.

Arsenal were given an early let-off by Simone Inzaghi’s men inside two minutes when Dumfries rattled the crossbar after bringing the ball down in the area and unleashing with the outside of his right foot.

After being dominated for the opening ten minutes, the Gunners grew into the game and threatened with a series of dangerous corners from Bukayo Saka, but created nothing of note in the opening 45.

With the two teams yet to concede in the competition heading into the match, 0-0 seemed an unsurprising scoreline just before the break. But the script was ripped up as the referee awarded a dubious spot-kick.

Taremi’s flick on from Calhanolgu’s free-kick certainly struck the arm of Merino, but it was in such close vicinity that the decision would perhaps not have been given in the Premier League.

Arsenal looked more dangerous in the second half with Yann Bisseck producing a superb block to deny Kai Havertz to add to the earlier defensive heroics of Dumfries on the goal-line.

The Gunners continued to send in a barrage of crosses but were lacking the target man to make them count, while Odegaard’s introduction in stoppage time was too little too late in terms of injecting some creativity.

Up next for Arsenal is a trip to Stamford Bridge to take on Chelsea, who sit level on points with them in the Premier League. Their next European game is a visit to Sporting, where Manchester City conceded four on Tuesday.

Inter, meanwhile, take on Napoli in a mouth-watering clash at the top of Serie A on Sunday, while their next Champions League tie comes in the form of a visit from still-pointless RB Leipzig.

While Mikel Arteta will be relieved to see the return of Odegaard, he will be concerned by the further evidence of Arsenal’s reliance on the midfielder to create goalscoring opportunities.

Since the 25-year-old’s injury while on international duty in September, the Gunners have often looked devoid of ideas in the final third with a seeming reliance on set-pieces.

This evening’s defeat marks the second successive game in which they have been kept out by their opponent following their 1-0 defeat away to Newcastle on Saturday.

While Arteta’s men were certainly the beneficiaries of effective set-pieces last season, they have lacked the ingenuity and slick passing in and around the box in recent weeks that also contributed to their title charge.

With a trip to Stamford Bridge on Sunday, Arsenal will be hoping Odegaard can quickly find his feet to prevent a potential ten-point gap forming from Premier League leaders Liverpool.

In a game of relatively few chances 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.

Aside from the penalty his quality of passing and reading of the game was instrumental in relieving pressure on Inter late on and allowing them to enjoy spells of possession to maintain a degree of control.

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, Timber 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 corner is targeted to the near post and it gets a flick on by Inter’s Taremi but Dumfries is there at the back post to make a vital goal-line clearance.

45+4′ – GOAL! INTER MILAN 1-0 ARSENAL (CALHANOGLOU): After a wait for VAR to check for a potential offside, Calhanoglou strokes his penalty down the middle as Raya dives to the right.

45+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’s a harsh one with Merino so close to the Inter forward.

3′ – INTER RATTLE THE BAR: Inter’s two strikers combine before Taremi finds Dumfries at the back post. He controls it before striking with the outside of his foot and his effort rattles the crossbar. Early let-off for the Gunners!