Inter Milan Hands Arsenal First Champions League Loss with 1-0 Victory at San Siro

Hakan Calhanoglu’s penalty breaks Arsenal’s unbeaten streak, as Inter climbs the group standings

Inter Milan ended Arsenal’s unbeaten start in the UEFA Champions League with a 1-0 win at the San Siro, courtesy of a first-half stoppage-time penalty from Hakan Calhanoglu. The Turkish midfielder converted the spot-kick down the center after Mikel Merino was penalized for a handball in the area, giving Inter a crucial edge as they remain undefeated in the competition.

Mikel Arteta’s side found it difficult to break down a resilient Inter defense, with their best chance coming from a defensive miscue as Mehdi Taremi’s header was cleared off the line by teammate Denzel Dumfries. Arsenal, who had come into the game level on points with Inter, now find themselves trailing after their first loss of the tournament. However, there was a bright spot for the Gunners, as captain Martin Odegaard made his return from injury with a brief appearance in the closing minutes.

The Italian side, led by Simone Inzaghi, showed early promise with Dumfries striking the crossbar in the second minute. While Inter controlled much of the early play, Arsenal began to grow into the game and created pressure with a series of corners from Bukayo Saka. However, they struggled to generate clear chances in open play, mirroring recent issues in their attack.

The match seemed destined for a goalless first half until the late penalty decision. Calhanoglu’s free-kick deflected off Merino’s arm from close range, a call that might not have stood in the Premier League but was upheld here. Arsenal pushed for an equalizer in the second half, with Yann Bisseck’s crucial block denying Kai Havertz and Dumfries providing heroics to keep the clean sheet intact.

With Inter now moving up to fifth in the group, Arsenal falls to 12th place but will aim to bounce back domestically in their upcoming Premier League clash with Chelsea. Inter’s next European fixture is against RB Leipzig, while their Serie A schedule brings a high-stakes match against Napoli.

Arteta, pleased to see Odegaard back on the field, will be keen to address Arsenal’s recent struggles in the attacking third. Since the captain’s injury in September, the team has often relied on set pieces to create scoring opportunities. Tonight’s defeat also marked Arsenal’s second consecutive scoreless outing following their 1-0 loss to Newcastle.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH – HAKAN CALHANOLGU

Inter’s standout player, Calhanoglu, not only delivered the match-winning penalty but also controlled the pace for the Italian side, helping relieve late pressure and allowing Inter to maintain crucial possession.

Player Ratings
Inter Milan: Sommer 7, Pavard 6, De Vrij 7, Bisseck 7, Dumfries 7, Frattesi 6, Zielinski 6, Calhanoglu 8*, Darmian 6, Taremi 6, Martinez 7. Subs: Asllani 5, Mkhitaryan 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.s penalty breaks Arsenal’s unbeaten streak, as Inter climbs the group standings

Inter Milan ended Arsenal’s unbeaten start in the UEFA Champions League with a 1-0 win at the San Siro, courtesy of a first-half stoppage-time penalty from Hakan Calhanoglu. The Turkish midfielder converted the spot-kick down the center after Mikel Merino was penalized for a handball in the area, giving Inter a crucial edge as they remain undefeated in the competition.

Mikel Arteta’s side found it difficult to break down a resilient Inter defense, with their best chance coming from a defensive miscue as Mehdi Taremi’s header was cleared off the line by teammate Denzel Dumfries. Arsenal, who had come into the game level on points with Inter, now find themselves trailing after their first loss of the tournament. However, there was a bright spot for the Gunners, as captain Martin Odegaard made his return from injury with a brief appearance in the closing minutes.

The Italian side, led by Simone Inzaghi, showed early promise with Dumfries striking the crossbar in the second minute. While Inter controlled much of the early play, Arsenal began to grow into the game and created pressure with a series of corners from Bukayo Saka. However, they struggled to generate clear chances in open play, mirroring recent issues in their attack.

The match seemed destined for a goalless first half until the late penalty decision. Calhanoglu’s free-kick deflected off Merino’s arm from close range, a call that might not have stood in the Premier League but was upheld here. Arsenal pushed for an equalizer in the second half, with Yann Bisseck’s crucial block denying Kai Havertz and Dumfries providing heroics to keep the clean sheet intact.

With Inter now moving up to fifth in the group, Arsenal falls to 12th place but will aim to bounce back domestically in their upcoming Premier League clash with Chelsea. Inter’s next European fixture is against RB Leipzig, while their Serie A schedule brings a high-stakes match against Napoli.

Arteta, pleased to see Odegaard back on the field, will be keen to address Arsenal’s recent struggles in the attacking third. Since the captain’s injury in September, the team has often relied on set pieces to create scoring opportunities. Tonight’s defeat also marked Arsenal’s second consecutive scoreless outing following their 1-0 loss to Newcastle.

Inter’s standout player, Calhanoglu, not only delivered the match-winning penalty but also controlled the pace for the Italian side, helping relieve late pressure and allowing Inter to maintain crucial possession.

Player Ratings
Inter Milan: Sommer 7, Pavard 6, De Vrij 7, Bisseck 7, Dumfries 7, Frattesi 6, Zielinski 6, Calhanoglu 8*, Darmian 6, Taremi 6, Martinez 7. Subs: Asllani 5, Mkhitaryan 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.

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