Inter Milan defeated Arsenal in the Champions League

Hakan Calhanoglu’s penalty gave Inter Milan a 1-0 win over Arsenal in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday as the Italian champions remain unbeaten in the competition this season and sit in fifth place with ten points midway through the new league stage format.

“I think we played a great game against a strong team that plays with great intensity,” Inter coach Simone Inzaghi said.

Arsenal suffered defeat in Europe for the first time this season and are three points and seven positions behind their opponents.

The match at the San Siro looked set to end goalless until Mikel Merino was awarded a penalty after Mehdi Taremi’s shot deflected into the upraised arm of an Arsenal player from close range.

“We were treated very harshly,” Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta said. “There is no deviation in the penalty area, nothing can be done – so can he get away from it?”

Calhanoglu converted the penalty in the third minute of injury time of the first half.

Yann Sommer and Denzel Dumfries combined to deny Gabriel Magalhães an equalizer just before the hour.

Arsenal piled on the pressure in the second half but were unable to break through Inter’s solid defensive block as the Premier League side suffered their second defeat in four days. (AFP)