Leg: Çalhanoğlu (45e+3, SP)
Definitely complicated to maneuver, this Inter. Especially when, like Arsenal, we remain in three league matches without a victory (including two defeats). So, despite Mikel Arteta's playing intentions, it is difficult to do so against the reigning Italian champion who has only lost once since the start of the season and who remains on four clean sheets over his last five matches in all competitions. In short, really complex to obtain a result. And the reality on the ground did not contradict the truth on paper, the Gunners having lost against more realistic players than them on the fourth day of the Champions League. On the narrowest of margins, certainly. But, by eating his opponent without being frankly greedy for big chances and by resisting the English appetite at the end of the evening, the second in Serie A (again) impressed.
Dumfries' warning, Çalhanoğlu's sanction
An exploded crossbar to start, a goal scored to finish and an effective defense in between: if we had to schematize Inter's first period, it would be reduced to these three categories… to the delight of the locals. Because if the cannonball sent by Denzel Dumfries in the second minute ends up on David Raya's post and if Arsenal sterilely dominates the rest of the time (possession of the ball in its favor, seven strikes attempted…), it is Hakan Çalhanoğlu who opened the scoring with his team's first shot on target: sanctioning a handball from the unfortunate Mikel Merino in the penalty area following a deflection from the precious Mehdi Taremi (started to the detriment of Marcus Thuram), the Turk transformed his penalty to give his team the advantage in added time.
The Milanese fifth, the Gunners thirteenths
Opposite, the Gunners struggle to appear dangerous. Captain Bukayo Saka, for example, tries his luck after half an hour, but Yann Sommer does not have to achieve any feat to magnetize the ball towards his gloves. So, how can we turn the game around or at least equalize on the visitors' side? Replacing Merino with Gabriel Jesus during the interval, Arteta tries in response. A failed bet, despite the chances created and the sphere still stuck to his feet: Dumfries, again, saved on his line after a corner, while his goalkeeper flew past Kai Havertz. Nothing to say, Inter did not steal their success nor their fifth place in the general ranking (tied with Sporting Portugal, second, the impressive Stade Brestois and the formidable Monaco) of this new look C1. For Arsenal, on the other hand, confidence is fading more and more… without their thirteenth place being a tragedy, however.
Three excellent reasons to watch Inter-Arsenal rather than PSG this Wednesday evening
