Arsenal fell to a second consecutive defeat as Inter Milan beat them 1-0 at San Siro in the Champions League thanks to Hakan Calhanoglu's first-half penalty.
2024/2025 UEFA Champions League
1-0
Match Report
Mikel Arteta's side arrived in Italy without Declan Rice because of an injury on a week when they head to Chelsea in the Premier League off the back of a damaging defeat at Newcastle, and his absence was felt as the Gunners lost in Europe for the first time this season.
Arsenal midfielder Mikel Merino was hooked at half-time after his handball gave away the spot-kick, although there was little he could do to move his hand out of the way of Mehdi Taremi's flick. It is one that likely would not have been awarded in the Premier League.
Merino felt he should have had a penalty earlier in the first half when Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer connected with his head as he punched clear Gabriel Martinelli's cross, but VAR did not see enough to overturn the on-field decision.
Arsenal pushed for an equaliser but failed to score for the second game running as William Saliba spurned a good headed chance and Kai Havertz was expertly denied by Inter defender Yann Bisseck, preferred ahead of the impressive Alessandro Bastoni.
Not even the introduction of captain Martin Odegaard, out for the last 12 games through injury, could inspire a late comeback as Arsenal drop down to 12th in the Champions League table after gameweek four.
Inter, meanwhile, move up to fifth, into the automatic qualification spots, with 10 points from their opening four games, maintaining their unbeaten start to the competition despite having played Arsenal and Premier League champions Manchester City.
Match Events
0' The match is about to start!
0' Highlight from Inter vs Arsenal
3' Denzel Dumfries hits the bar with a right-foot shot!
4' Çalhanoglu's right-footed shot from outside the box is close but misses to left!
7' Mikel Merino directly collides with Dumfries' face!
14' Match Event for Inter vs Arsenal
15' Yellow Card! Lautaro and Gabriel booked for arguing!
19' Delay in match because of an injury Denzel Dumfries!
27' Saka's left-foot shot from the right is saved in the bottom corner!
29' Mikel Merino's header for Arsenal is saved at the top center of the goal!
33' Highlight from Inter vs Arsenal
41' Taremi's header from the center misses the top right corner!
43' Timber strikes from a distance but the deflected shot is saved by Sommer!
46' Match Event for Inter vs Arsenal
46' Gabriel Jesus replaces Mikel Merino!
46' Martinelli almost scores with a left-foot shot from the box, missing left!
47' Penalty Goal! Çalhanoğlu let Nerazzurri lead against Gunners! Inter 1-0 Arsenal
48' William Saliba header from very close range misses to the right!
56' Saka sends a cross but Pavard clears it!
56' Bukayo Saka header from very close range is saved in the top centre of the goal!
58' Dumfries successfully cleared the ball!
59' Havertz's left-footed shot from the right box is saved in the top left corner!
62' Thuram, Barella, and Mkhitaryan come on for Martínez, Frattesi, and Zielinski!
71' Kristjan Asllani replaces Hakan Çalhanoglu!
71' Denzel Dumfries misses a right-footed shot from the right side of the box!
75' Kai Havertz left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked!
78' Highlight from Inter vs Arsenal
80' Match Event for Inter vs Arsenal
82' Highlight from Inter vs Arsenal
Line-ups
Inter XI: Sommer, Darmian, De Vrij, Calhanoglu, Zielinski, M. Taremi, Dumfries, Pavard, Lautaro, Frattesi, Yann Bisseck
Subs: Arnautovic, Mkhitaryan, Acerbi, Raffaele Di Gennaro, Dimarco, Barella, Thuram, Bastoni, Josep Martínez, Tajon Buchanan, Kristjan Asllani
Arsenal XI: Trossard, Partey, David Raya, Merino, Gabriel, Havertz, Ben White, Martinelli, William Saliba, Saka, Jurrien Timber
Subs: Neto, Sterling, Jorginho, Zinchenko, Martin Ødegaard, Jesus, Jakub Kiwior, N. Butler-Oyedeji, Tommy Setford, Ethan Nwaneri, Josh Robinson, Myles Lewis-Skelly