Hakan Calhanoglu maintained his perfect Inter penalty record to secure a fantastic Champions League victory over previously unbeaten Arsenal at San Siro.
The Nerazzurri made numerous changes to rest Marcus Thuram, Federico Dimarco, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Alessandro Bastoni and Nicolò Barella ahead of Sunday’s Scudetto showdown against Napoli, but welcomed Hakan Calhanoglu back for his first start in a month. Arsenal missed Declan Rice, Riccardo Calafiori, Kiernan Tierney and Takehiro Tomiyasu, but Martin Odegaard was on the bench for the first time in two months.
See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.
It was a lightning start for the hosts, as in the opening three minutes a Denzel Dumfries scorcher smashed against the crossbar, then Calhanoglu drilled just wide from distance.
Mehdi Taremi also rolled one across from the right for a Lautaro Martinez tap-in, crucially intercepted by Leandro Trossard back defending.
Yann Sommer was second to a Gabriel Martinelli cross, punching Mikel Merino rather than the ball, but the header went over the bar.
Taremi also nodded over from a Davide Frattesi hooked assist for Inter, but Arsenal were putting together a series of corners.
The deadlock was broken when a Calhanoglu free kick into the box was booted by Taremi onto the raised arm of Merino, so the referee pointed to the spot. Calhanoglu maintained his perfect record by rolling the penalty down the middle, scoring the first goal conceded by Arsenal in the Champions League this season.
Gabriel Martinelli hit the side-netting from a tricky angle, but the Gunners started to really pour forward, as Dumfries had to clear one of the many Saka corners off the line at the back post.
Sommer then had to claw a curling Kai Havertz effort out from the far top corner, but Bisseck was absolutely decisive on 75 minutes when making the block on Havertz, who was allowed to control, turn and shoot from 12 yards undisturbed.
Havertz had to come off covered in blood after a clash of heads with Bisseck and teenager Nwaneri turned Stefan de Vrij only to blast over the bar from outside the D in stoppages.
It means Inter have still not conceded a single goal in the Champions League this season and go to 10 points.
Inter 1-0 Arsenal
Calhanoglu pen 45+3 (I)
Player statistic
| Lautaro Martínez |  |
15' | ||
| 15' | |
Gabriel Magalhães | ||
| Hakan Calhanoglu |  |
45+3' |
| Nicolò Barella | |
68' | ||
| 68' | |
Gabriel Jesus |
Match statistic
AsNAH denied a stonewall pen in the 1st half.
But. They are literally akin to a rugby team trying to gain yards from line-outs. Apart from corners and 10000’s of crosses, they offer nothing else.