Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was left seething over contentious penalty decisions that played a pivotal role in his team’s 1-0 Champions League defeat to Inter Milan. Despite dominating possession and creating numerous chances, the Gunners fell to a first-half penalty converted by Hakan Calhanoglu, leaving their European campaign hanging in the balance.
The London side controlled proceedings throughout the match, commanding an impressive 63% possession and unleashing 20 shots compared to Inter’s mere seven attempts. However, it was the Italian side’s solitary shot on target – Calhanoglu’s penalty – that proved decisive in a game marked by controversial officiating decisions.
The penalty incident occurred in first-half injury time when referee Istvan Kovacs pointed to the spot after adjudging Mikel Merino to have handled the ball in the box. This decision particularly rankled with Arteta, who struggled to comprehend the referee’s interpretation. “I don’t understand. There is no danger at all. You cannot react because the ball is very close,” the Spanish manager expressed in his post-match comments. “We were told at the start of the season that wasn’t a penalty. That was clear. Today it was a different story.”
Adding to Arteta’s frustration was an earlier incident involving Merino and Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer, where the Arsenal player appeared to be caught on the head by Sommer’s attempted punch clearance. The Gunners’ manager was adamant this should have resulted in a penalty for his side, stating emphatically, “If that is a penalty then the one on Mikel Merino where he punches him in the head has to be a penalty, 1,000 per cent.
Despite the disappointing result, Arteta found plenty of positives in his team’s performance, particularly highlighting the maturity and control they displayed on one of European football’s most intimidating stages. “This is the way I want to see my team,” he declared proudly. “Of all the big games we have played in Europe, this is by far the best one that we have played in the last few years. I haven’t seen them play in Europe in the manner they have today.”
The defeat at San Siro extends Arsenal’s current challenging run, with the team now winless in their last three Premier League outings. However, rather than dwelling on the setbacks, Arteta’s attention has already turned to their upcoming London derby against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. The fixture presents an immediate opportunity for redemption, and the Arsenal manager remains bullish about his team’s prospects.
If we play the way we played here, we have a good chance to win against Chelsea,” Arteta asserted, backing his players to translate their impressive European performance into domestic success. I told them I’m proud of them,” he added, emphasizing his unwavering faith in the squad’s ability to bounce back.
The match against Chelsea takes on added significance as Arsenal look to arrest their recent slide and maintain their position in the Premier League’s upper echelons. The bookmakers currently have Arsenal slightly favored at 6/4 to emerge victorious at Stamford Bridge, compared to Chelsea’s odds of 15/8, suggesting a closely contested affair awaits.
As Arsenal prepare for this crucial London derby, Arteta’s primary challenge will be to maintain the positive aspects of their San Siro performance while ensuring his team rediscovers their clinical edge in front of goal. The manner of their defeat to Inter Milan, while frustrating, has paradoxically provided a template for how Arteta wants his team to perform – now they just need to add the finishing touches to secure the results their play deserves.
