In a dramatic Champions League encounter, Arsenal suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat to Inter Milan on Wednesday night. The match, which took place at the San Siro stadium in Milan, was marred by controversy as Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta expressed his frustration over two contentious penalty decisions.
The only goal of the game came just before halftime when Inter was awarded a penalty. The decision was made after a free kick into the area skimmed off Mehdi Taremi and onto Mikel Merino’s outstretched arm. Hakan Çalhanoğlu stepped up and converted the penalty, giving Inter the lead.
Arteta was visibly upset with the decision, arguing that the ball’s deflection made it impossible for Merino to react in time. “There is no danger at all, you can’t react because the ball is very close,” Arteta said. “But OK, they decide there is a penalty. But then if that’s a penalty, the one on Mikel Merino, you know, when he punches in the head, it has to be 1,000% a penalty.”
Earlier in the match, Merino himself had a penalty appeal rejected after being checked by the video assistant referee (VAR). Merino appeared to be punched in the head by Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer as they both went for a cross. Arteta felt that this incident should have resulted in a penalty for Arsenal.
Arteta’s frustration was compounded by the fact that he believed his team had played exceptionally well and deserved more from the match. “This is by far the best (match) that we played in the last few years in Europe,” he said. Despite Arsenal’s dominance and relentless attacks, they were unable to break through Inter’s defense.
The controversial penalty decisions have sparked a debate among fans and pundits alike, with many agreeing that the calls significantly impacted the outcome of the match. Arteta’s post-match comments highlighted the fine margins in football and the impact that refereeing decisions can have on the result.
As Arsenal heads to their next match, Arteta will be hoping for a fairer set of decisions and a better outcome for his team. The frustration felt by the manager and his players serves as a reminder of the challenges and unpredictability of the beautiful game.
What are your thoughts on the match and the decisions made?
Inter performance and stats
Inter
Inter is currently 5th in the Champions League with 10 points.
In the last 4 games, it has won 3 times and drew once. In its last match, Inter won 1-0 against Arsenal.
It has a positive goal difference after scoring 6 goals and conceding 0.
Arsenal performance and stats
Arsenal is currently 12th in the Champions League with 7 points.
In the last 4 games, it has won twice, drew once, and lost once. In its last match, Arsenal lost 1-0 against Inter.
It has a positive goal difference after scoring 3 goals and conceding 1.
