Hakan Calhanoglu Leads Inter Milan to Victorious Champions League Match Against Frustrated Arsenal

Hakan Calhanoglu scored the decisive goal to lead Inter Milan to a 1-0 victory over Arsenal on Wednesday, extending their unbeaten run in the Champions League and handing the Gunners their first loss in the tournament. The Turkey captain calmly converted a penalty in first-half stoppage time, securing Inter's 10th point in the new single league phase. With a flawless defensive record, Inter are among the top teams vying for a spot in the last 16, currently trailing leaders Liverpool by just two points. Their strong performance so far has put them in a good position to secure direct qualification for the knockout stage, with a solid chance of finishing in the top eight spots.

"The boys were magnificent. We beat a really good team, who have been fighting with Manchester City," Inter coach Simone Inzaghi told reporters.

"Tonight was a night to remember because we played in front of a stadium which pushed us on all the way, and we deserved to bask in their applause."

Arsenal meanwhile continued their shaky run of form and sit 12th on seven points, although Mikel Arteta's team deserved more from an engaging encounter at the San Siro.

Arteta was angry at the decision to give Inter's penalty, for Mikel Merino handling Mehdi Taremi's flick, as he believed his defender couldn't get his arm out of the way.

He also couldn't believe that his team weren't given a spot-kick early in the first half when Sommer clattered into Merino -- who was substituted at half-time due to the impact -- while trying to clear the ball.

"If you are going to give a penalty, the other one has to be because he punches him in the head," he said to TNT.

Advertisement

"There is no deflection, nothing you can do in the box, so can he get away from it? If he is going to give that the other has to be 100 percent a penalty."

Calhanoglu's winner was the first goal Arsenal have conceded in the Champions League this campaign and came on his first start since picking up a thigh injury on international duty last month.

Inter march on

His third goal of the season was followed by a clutch of good chances for the away side who were denied a leveller in the second half by a combination of desperate defending and one spectacular Yann Sommer save from Kai Havertz.

Advertisement

Inter now face Serie A leaders Napoli on Sunday with the chance to move top after five of Inzaghi's first-choice players -- including Italy stars Nicolo Barella and Federico Dimarco and France forward Marcus Thuram -- started Wednesday's match on the bench.

Arsenal face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge as they try to snap a run of three Premier League matches without a win and get a faltering season back on track.

Arteta will be able to count on his skipper Martin Odegaard after the Norway international made an appearance as a late substitute for Havertz.

Odegaard had missed Arsenal's 12 previous matches after picking up an ankle injury with his country, and his return is a boost for Arteta who is also sweating on Declan Rice who played no part at the San Siro.

Inter started on the front foot and were unlucky not to be ahead in the first minute when Denzel Dumfries crashed a powerful strike off the crossbar.

But little else happened until just before break when Merino's contentious handball led to Calhanoglu's neatly slotted spot-kick.

With that lead and Napoli coming up on Sunday, Inter tried to soak up Arsenal's pressure, but after Dumfries had to scramble to clear off the line and Sommer somehow tipped away Havertz's dipping effort, Inzaghi called upon his stars from the bench.

Thuram, Barella and Henrikh Mkhitaryan all came on in the 62nd minute but Arsenal kept pouring forward. 

Listen to the latest songs, only on JioSaavn.com

And Havertz had his head in his hands in disbelief in the 75th minute when he spun and let off a shot which seemed destined for the net until Yann Bisseck flung out a leg to save the day for grateful Inter fans.

(This story has not been edited by staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)