Mikel Arteta says Arsenal 'very harshly done' by in Champions League loss to Inter - 'Punches him in the head'
Updated 07/11/2024 at 09:30 GMT
Mikel Arteta was incensed by the decisions that went against Arsenal in their first UEFA Champions League defeat of the season at Inter on Wednesday night. The Gunners boss felt his side should have been awarded a penalty when Yann Sommer wiped out Mikel Merino in the first half, and claimed Arsenal "dominated" the Serie A outfit, who scored a controversially-awarded penalty.
'Punches him in the head' - Arteta questions penalty decisions but 'proud' of players
Video credit: TNT Sports
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta said his side were "very harshly done" by in their 1-0 UEFA Champions League defeat to Inter, insisting the visitors should have been awarded a penalty.
Instead, it was Hakan Calhanoglu's spot-kick that decided the game, after Mikel Merino was adjudged to have handled the ball in the box on the stroke of half-time.
Merino was earlier involved in Arsenal's penalty claim, when Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer made contact with the Spaniard while trying to claw away a ball into the box.
"The level of domination that we played, I feel like we were very harshly done tonight. In the sense that it is obvious," Arteta told TNT Sports.
When asked which penalty decision he was frustrated by, Arteta replied: "Both. Especially if you’re going to give a penalty in the other box because he [Sommer] punches him [Merino] in the head.
On the decision to penalise Merino for handball, Arteta added: "I cannot see, it’s not a shot. It’s just a deflection. There is no danger in the box. There’s nothing you can do, the ball is very, very close to your body.
- Calhanoglu penalty sees Inter hand misfiring Arsenal first league phase loss
- Raphinha, Kounde and Lewandowski shine as Barca storm past Crvena Zvezda
- No 'massive crisis' - Keown insists Arsenal 'way better' despite Inter defeat
"I don’t know how you can get away with it. Especially if you’re going to give that one, the other one then 100% has to be a penalty."
Arteta felt his side raised their performance levels in Milan after a run of disappointing results. The Gunners have dropped points in their last three Premier League outings, including a 1-0 loss at Newcastle last weekend.
The Arsenal boss said he was "very proud" of the display, but rued his side's finishing.
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2024/11/06/4059456-82326768-2560-1440.jpg)
Highlights: Arsenal pay penalty as Calhanoglu strike gives Inter win
Video credit: TNT Sports
"With the manner of situation, chances that we generated, we should have scored a couple of goals at least and that’s on us," Arteta added.
"The way the team played, that was us tonight. Level of energy, level of quality, how we arrive in the box, how we dominated a team that’s one of the best in Europe. In their stadium, very proud.
"It was decided in the boxes, which is the Champions League, and every decision in the box makes a difference, it’s clear."
The defeat saw Arsenal slip to 12th in the 36-team league phase standings, with two wins, a draw and a defeat from their opening four matches.
The Gunners will look to end their recent Premier League woes against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
TNT Sports will show over 500 matches from the UEFA Champions League, the UEFA Europa League and the UEFA Conference League across the 2024-25 season. The streaming home for TNT Sports in the UK is discovery+, where fans can enjoy a subscription that includes TNT Sports, Eurosport and entertainment in one destination.
Related Topics
Thoughts?