Mikel Arteta’s problems continue to mount. In the week they were rocked by the surprise resignation of sporting director Edu, Arsenal surrendered their unbeaten record in the Champions League after Hakan Calhanoglu broke his record of never missing a penalty for Inter, scoring the only goal of a tightly contested match scored. .

It was an unpleasant event for Arteta, who was shown a yellow card for handball in the second half and was almost sent to the stands as his team searched for the equalizer. But despite a much-improved second-half performance, which saw the visitors score thirteen corners to Inter’s nil, they slumped to a second successive 1-0 defeat.

Arsenal’s last visit to Inter in this cavernous arena almost 21 years ago resulted in one of the most famous European nights in their history, with Edu starting in midfield alongside Ray Parlor as Arsène Wenger’s side recorded a memorable 5-1 win that was completed. by a brilliant solo goal from Thierry Henry. Having failed to win any of his past three Premier League games, a return to continental action was welcomed by Arteta as “the kind of game that gets my blood flowing” and he would have been delighted to have Martin Ødegaard as a substitute can name. after the captain missed 12 games due to an ankle injury.

In Declan Rice’s absence, Thomas Partey returned to a central midfield role, while Ben White could start in a first-choice back four that has yet to concede a goal in the Champions League after three games. Inter had also kept three clean sheets but had scored two more goals than their opponents, leaving them just above them in the table. Their manager, Simone Inzaghi, rested five key players for their win over Venezia on Sunday, including Calhanoglu and Mehdi Taremi, and they were restored to the starting line-up here.

Inzaghi had stated that his side would look to maintain possession to negate Arsenal’s attacking threat, but it was the Italian champions who took the initiative. Barely 100 seconds had passed when Denzel Dumfries smashed a shot against David Raya’s crossbar before Calhanoglu fired just wide from distance.

Arsenal struggled to find their rhythm and it took timely intervention from Gabriel Magalhães to cut Taremi’s dangerous low ball into the area. The Brazilian defender was cautioned after being pushed over Inter captain Lautaro Martínez as Arsenal prepared to deliver the first corner. Arteta took the opportunity of a stoppage in play to give some instructions to Jurrien Timber and Gabriel Martinelli, presumably in an attempt to quell the Dumfries danger.

Martinelli was able to make the most of some excellent play from Bukayo Saka before the stand-in captain registered Arsenal’s first shot on target in the 27th minute after cutting in from the right flank. A vicious Martinelli cross was then inches away from connecting with Mikel Merino’s forehead, with the Spaniard taking a blow to the head as Yann Sommer cleared, but VAR did not require the referee to review the incident.

Despite all their previous efforts, Inter had yet to test Raya, but their chance came on the stroke of half-time when Romanian referee Merino awarded a penalty after the ball struck his arm from close range from Taremi’s volley. There was very little the Spanish midfielder could have done about it as Calhanoglu – much to Arteta’s fury – stroked for the ball from the spot to put the hosts ahead.

It proved to be Merino’s final act of the evening as he was replaced by Gabriel Jesus for the second half as Kai Havertz dropped in midfield. Arsenal looked determined to find a way back into the match when Martinelli fired into the side netting before William Saliba mistimed his leap from a corner as the goal gaped. They almost scored from their next corner when Gabriel won a header at the near post, but Dumfries was able to clear the line.

Ødegaard watched intently as he warmed up on the touchline, although it was Inter who provided fresh legs with a triple substitution just after the hour mark. Arteta was then shown a bizarre yellow card after picking up the ball while it was still on the pitch, with Inter being awarded a free-kick. The referee gave the Arsenal manager a final warning minutes later as he protested another decision, his frustration beginning to boil over. Havertz had a golden opportunity to equalize when Leandro Trossard’s cross found its way to the German eight meters away, but his effort was poor and it allowed Yann Bisseck to block in time.

Arteta first turned to his teenager Ethan Nwaneri for inspiration before introducing Ødegaard later. But Inter’s defense remained rock solid as they prepared for this weekend’s top match against Napoli, here with another clean sheet. For Arsenal, who travel through London to face Chelsea on Sunday, it was another bitter pill to swallow.