Hakan Calhanoglu’s first-half penalty propelled Inter Milan to a 1-0 victory over Arsenal on Wednesday, preserving their unbeaten record in the Champions League and handing the Gunners their first loss in the revamped tournament.
The Turkish captain calmly converted a penalty in first-half stoppage time, pushing Inter to 10 points and solidifying their position as one of the competition’s top contenders. With this win, Inter remain one of only four teams trailing two points behind leaders Liverpool, maintaining a flawless defensive record without a single goal conceded thus far.
“The boys were magnificent,” Inter coach Simone Inzaghi said. “We beat a really good team, who have been fighting with Manchester City. Tonight was a night to remember because we played in front of a stadium which pushed us on all the way, and we deserved to bask in their applause.”
Arsenal, meanwhile, continue to grapple with inconsistent form, sitting 12th in the standings with seven points. Manager Mikel Arteta voiced frustration over the penalty decision against Mikel Merino, who was penalized for handling a Mehdi Taremi flick in the box. Arteta argued that Merino had no time to react and questioned the lack of a penalty when Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer collided with Merino earlier in the first half, leading to Merino’s substitution at halftime.
“If you are going to give a penalty, the other one has to be because he punches him in the head,” Arteta told TNT. “There is no deflection, nothing you can do in the box, so can he get away from it? If he is going to give that, the other has to be 100 percent a penalty.”
The defeat marks the first goal Arsenal have conceded in the Champions League this season and comes during Calhanoglu’s return from a thigh injury sustained during international duty last month. The Turkish midfielder’s goal, his third of the season, gave Inter the advantage going into halftime.
Arsenal pushed for an equalizer in the second half, with Kai Havertz coming close to leveling the score, only to be denied by Yann Sommer’s reflexive save and a late defensive effort from Yann Bisseck that kept Inter ahead. Despite calling on regular starters including Marcus Thuram, Nicolo Barella, and Henrikh Mkhitaryan in the final half-hour, Inzaghi’s side managed to resist Arsenal’s sustained pressure.
Inter now look to carry this momentum into their Serie A clash with league leaders Napoli on Sunday. A win would place Inter at the top of the domestic league standings.
Arsenal, meanwhile, will aim to recover their Premier League form when they meet Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. Arteta can count on captain Martin Odegaard, who returned to the pitch after missing 12 games due to an ankle injury. However, Arsenal’s concerns persist over the fitness of midfielder Declan Rice, who did not feature at the San Siro.
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