A furious Mikel Arteta described Arsenal’s defeat against Inter Milan as “very, very difficult to accept” – and said his side should have been awarded a penalty after Mikel Merino was “punched” in the head.
Arsenal fell behind on the stroke of half-time when Inter were awarded a contentious penalty after Merino was adjudged to have handled the ball in the area.
Merino might count himself unfortunate given he could do little to get out of the way of Mehdi Taremi’s flick-on. Hakan Calhanoglu converted the ensuing spot-kick to send the Gunners to their second defeat in four days.
Earlier in the opening period, Merino had his own penalty claim when Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer delivered an unintentional right hook to his head.
Asked for his reaction to the hosts’ spot-kick, Arteta said: “I don’t understand. There is no danger at all. You cannot react because the ball is very close.
“We were told at the start of the season that wasn’t a penalty. That was clear. Today it was a different story. But OK. They decide that is a penalty.
“But 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. These are the margins in this game and it’s very, very difficult to accept.
Should this have been a penalty for Arsenal? 🤔
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/FKylgHRZOD
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) November 6, 2024
“I am extremely frustrated because these are two decisions that marked the course of the game. Unfortunately there is nothing we can do. We have to accept it and move on.”
The defeat in the San Siro marked Arsenal’s second in a row after their 1-0 loss at Newcastle last weekend which cast them seven points adrift of Premier League table-toppers Liverpool.
Arsenal dominated large spells of Wednesday’s fixture, but they failed to find a breakthrough against a side which has not conceded in the Champions League so far. It leaves the Gunners, who face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, 12th in the 36-team league.
Hakan Calhanoglu gives Inter Milan the lead from the spot 🎯
Arsenal might feel hard done by after the penalty was awarded for handball 🤚
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/kzA7Mm58sL
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) November 6, 2024
But Arteta added: “This is the way I want to see my team. 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.
“If we play the way we played here we have a good chance to win against Chelsea. I told them I’m proud of them.
“I haven’t seen them play in Europe in the manner they have today. And we are very disappointed because we didn’t get what we wanted out of the game that’s for sure.”
Declan Rice was sorely missed in the San Siro – absent after he picked up a foot injury against Newcastle.
And while captain Martin Odegaard ended his two-month absence with a late cameo, Kai Havertz was involved in a clash of heads with Yann Bisseck and is a doubt for Arsenal’s trip to Stamford Bridge.
“Kai has a big cut,” said Arteta. “He had to come off because he needed some stitches. Hopefully he will be OK for the weekend.”
Sarina Wiegman praised her England team after they “kept it simple” in a 5-0 rout of Nations League opponents Belgium at Ashton Gate.First-half goals from Lucy Bronze and Millie Bright underlined England’s control of the contest, and it could have been more but Alessia Russo twice hit the post.Substitute Aggie Beever-Jones scored her maiden Lionesses goal after 67 minutes, with n...
Valerien Ismael insisted he was the man to turn around Blackburn’s fortunes after a 2-0 home defeat to Middlesbrough played out on a night of sustained fan protests against the club’s ownership and his own management.Boro moved into the play-off places with a fifth win in seven as they make a late promotion charge, but it is a very different story for Blackburn who have dropped out of ...
Middlesbrough climbed up to fifth in the Championship with a 2-0 win over beleaguered Blackburn that piled pressure on Valerien Ismael and the club’s hierarchy at a febrile Ewood Park.Against a backdrop of angry fan protests against the Venky’s Group that has owned Rovers since 2010, Boro struck twice in the opening eight minutes to take control.Tommy Conway needed less than 90 seconds...
England comfortably preserved their unbeaten record in this season’s Nations League after a dominant display saw them brush aside Belgium 5-0 at Ashton Gate.First-half goals from Lucy Bronze and Millie Bright underlined England’s control of the contest, and it could have been more but Alessia Russo twice hit the post.Substitute Aggie Beever-Jones scored her first Lionesses goal after 6...
Tottenham will do everything they can to keep hold of winger Dejan Kulusevski amid reported interest from Serie A giants Napoli and AC Milan.According to GiveMeSport, Spurs see the 24-year-old as a key player and are planning for next season with the winger.It’s understood that any attempt to sign him would take a fee of around £50 million, which may reluctantly be accepted.Kulusevski h...
Arsenal have reportedly cooled their interest in Aston Villa forward Ollie Watkins ahead of the summer transfer window.According to Sky Sports, Arsenal have set their sights on other targets after making an offer for the 29-year-old in January.The Gunners attempted to sign the England international with a reported £60 million offer, which was ultimately turned down by Aston Villa.It’s u...
Chelsea are reportedly keeping tabs on Borussia Dortmund youngster Jamie Gittens ahead of the summer transfer window.According to David Ornstein at The Athletic, the 20-year-old is one of several wingers Chelsea are taking a close look at.Gittens started the season with a bang but has fallen off somewhat, failing to register a goal contribution in 16 games across all competitions.Despite his drop-...
Let's start our Daily Laugh today.KAI GROOMING EPL Week 30!! Thomas Partey this season Cristiano Ronaldo reaches 20 league goals in a season for the 𝟏𝟓𝐭𝐡 time in his career Ange might not like what he's hearing next Haaland won’t be the same without KDB! These Two GOATs have always had immense respect for each other! Please stay tuned on Daily Laugh. There will be more fun tomorrow!(Cred...
Premier League leaders Liverpool are going to have a busy summer transfer window.The Reds are currently working on new contracts for players like Virgil Van Dijk and Mohamed Salah while also preparing for the departure of right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold.Players like Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz are also facing an uncertain future at Anfield and could be replaced after this season.The Merseyside cl...
Alejandro Garnacho has dropped a Manchester United transfer hint by putting his £3.9m mansion up for sale after just a year.Garnacho puts £3.9m mansion up for saleCould hint at summer transferWinger nearly left Man Utd in JanuaryWHAT HAPPENED?Garnacho only bought the property in Bowdon last April but is already selling it, suggesting that a departure from United could be on the cards thi...
- 1 Reading extend unbeaten League One run to 11 games with win over Peterborough
- 2 Danny Rohl hails Sheffield Wednesday resilience in draw at Cardiff
- 3 Alfie May double sends Birmingham step closer to Championship
- 4 Marcus Rashford scores first Premier League goal for Villa in win at Brighton
- 5 Ryan Lowe and Conor Hourihane felt team deserved more as Wigan and Barnsley draw
- 6 Hollywood superstar Anne Hathaway sends clear message to Bukayo Saka
- 7 Mat Sadler hails Taylor Allen set-piece skills after Walsall snatch draw
- 8 Chris Davies says Alfie May’s goal drought never concerned him
- 9 Football fan 'eats' raw pig's head in ultimate insult
- 10 Marcus Rashford still looking to improve after firing Villa into FA Cup semis