Hakan Calhanoglu propelled Inter Milan to a 1-0 victory over Arsenal. The win maintained Inter’s unbeaten streak in the Champions League and handed the Gunners their first loss in this year’s revamped competition.
The Turkish captain secured the win with a decisive penalty during first-half stoppage time, elevating Inter to 10 points in the league phase.
Inter remains one of the four teams trailing leader Liverpool by two points and stands a strong chance to secure a top-eight finish, crucial for direct last-16 qualification. Remarkably, Inter has yet to concede a goal in the tournament.
Simone Inzaghi, Inter’s coach, praised his team’s performance against a formidable Arsenal, noting the supportive home crowd at the San Siro. “Tonight was memorable because the stadium’s energy truly spurred us on, and we deserved the applause,” he remarked.
Arsenal’s form has wavered, landing them in 12th place with seven points. Despite a determined effort at San Siro, Arsenal’s manager, Mikel Arteta, voiced frustration over a penalty awarded to Inter and disbelief at the referee’s decision not to award a penalty when his player, Merino, was involved in a boxing incident.
Calhanoglu scored the first goal Arsenal has allowed in this Champions League season, which is notable as it marked his return to the starting lineup after a thigh injury.
Looking ahead, Inter will take on Serie A leaders Napoli this Sunday, with a chance to claim the top spot. Anticipating this critical match, Inzaghi rested several key players during the game against Arsenal.
Meanwhile, Arsenal is preparing for a challenging match against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, aiming to overcome a three-game winless streak in the Premier League. Arteta will welcome back captain Martin Odegaard, who recently returned from an injury, bolstering the squad as they seek to revitalize their season.
Inter initially dominated and was close to scoring in the opening minute when Denzel Dumfries hit the crossbar. The game’s pace intensified just before halftime, leading to Merino’s controversial handball and Calhanoglu’s successful penalty. Despite Arsenal’s pressure and several close calls in the second half, Inter managed to hold on, aided by key substitutions in the 62nd minute and a critical defensive move by Yann Bisseck, which kept the scoreline in Inter’s favour.
