epa11706126 Inter Milan’s Hakan Calhanoglu (L) celebrates with team mates after scoring the 1-0 goal during the UEFA Champions League soccer match between Inter and Arsenal FC at Giuseppe Meazza stadium in Milan, Italy, 06 November 2024. EPA-EFE/NICOLA MARFISI
Inter Milan's Hakan Calhanoglu (L) celebrates with team mates after scoring the 1-0 goal during the UEFA Champions League soccer match between Inter and Arsenal FC at Giuseppe Meazza stadium in Milan, Italy, 06 November 2024. EPA-EFE/NICOLA MARFISI

Hakan Calhanoglu delivered the three points from the penalty spot as Inter picked up an important 1-0 victory at home against Arsenal in the Champions League on Wednesday evening. 

It was a very decent display on a collective level from Simone Inzaghi’s side, but there were a handful of standout individual performers. 

Calhanoglu, Dumfries and Bisseck star for Inter against Arsenal 

Calhanoglu grabbed the headlines with a player of the match performance against The Gunners in San Siro. He has now scored all 19 of the penalties that he has taken in Nerazzurri colours. 

In what was his first start after the injury lay-off that kept him out of three games in October, Calhanoglu was all over the pitch, involved in the pressing from the front and came away with average ratings of 7/10 in the Italian press, although some outlets went higher.

MILAN, ITALY - NOVEMBER 06: Hakan Calhanoglu of FC Internazionale scores his team's first goal from the penalty-spot during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD4 match between FC Internazionale Milano and Arsenal FC at Stadio San Siro on November 06, 2024 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
MILAN, ITALY – NOVEMBER 06: Hakan Calhanoglu of FC Internazionale scores his team’s first goal from the penalty-spot during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD4 match between FC Internazionale Milano and Arsenal FC at Stadio San Siro on November 06, 2024 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Also involved in both the attacking and defensive phases was right wing-back Denzel Dumfries. He provided Inter’s first major chance of the game and also came up with a goal-preventing clearance in his own area towards the end. The flying Dutchman caused some real issues for his compatriot Jurrien Timber from his wing-back position. 

Like Dumfries and Calhanoglu, Yann Aurel Bisseck also came away with average ratings of 7/10 in the Italian press. The towering German came in as a direct replacement for Alessandro Bastoni on the left of the back three and looked just as solid as the Italy international in defensive phases. 

Though Saka threatened early on down Bisseck’s side, the Nerazzurri defender got stronger and stronger as the game went on, and also showed that he was not afraid of stepping out of the back as the ball carrying defender in the back three. 

UCL | Inter 1-0 Arsenal: Calhanoglu and rock solid defence

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