Arsenal’s Unbeaten Run in Europe Snapped by Inter Milan

Arsenal’s unbeaten Champions League run ended with a controversial 1-0 defeat to Inter Milan at the San Siro. The match shifted in the first half when the referee awarded a penalty to Inter seconds before the break after Mikel Merino handled the ball, despite having little chance to avoid Mehdi Taremi’s flick. VAR upheld the decision and Hakan Calhanoglu confidently converted the penalty down the middle marking the first goal Arsenal conceded in the competition this season.

Arsenal pushed for an equalizer in the second half. Gabriel’s header was cleared off the line by Denzel Dumfries and Kai Havertz’s curling shot was superbly saved by Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer. Havertz also saw another effort blocked by Yann Bisseck but Arsenal couldn’t find the net, suffering their first loss in four European games. The defeat added to Arsenal’s struggles in the Premier League where a three-match winless streak has left them in fifth place, seven points behind leaders Liverpool.

Injuries have further hampered the Gunners with captain Martin Odegaard out since August due to an ankle injury. However, his return to training provided a boost and Arteta included him on the bench for the match against Inter. Despite the loss, Arsenal showed positives. They created plenty of chances and displayed resilience despite the controversial penalty. With Odegaard’s return and other key players potentially back, Arsenal will look to regain their form when they face Chelsea in the Premier League on Sunday.