Failed to score in three of their last four games – Arsenal beaten by Inter at the San Siro

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Ødegaard makes his return 

©IMAGO

Arsenal’s unbeaten run in this season’s Champions League came to an end at the San Siro this Wednesday, as a controversial first-half penalty saw Inter Milan beat the Gunners 1-0. The hosts were awarded a spot-kick seconds before half-time, when Mikel Merino was deemed to have handled the ball, despite it looking there was little he could have done to gotten out of the way of the flick on. Hakan Çalhanoğlu confidently sent the penalty down the middle to give Inter the three points and put them fifth in the league phase. Arsenal now move down to 12th.

It was the first goal Arsenal had conceded in Europe this campaign, but they still had plenty of time to turn things around. The Gunners dominated the second half – however, a lack of creativity proved to be a problem yet again for Mikel Arteta’s team, and there will have been huge relief to see captain Martin Ødegaard back on the pitch – albeit only as an injury-time substitute at the San Siro. The Norwegian has been unfit since September due to an ankle injury, and the Gunners have now failed to score in three of their last four matches in all competitions without him.

Arsenal scored blanks in a 2-0 defeat to Bournemouth, last weekend’s 1-0 loss to Newcastle, and Wednesday’s 1-0 defeat to Inter. There’s been lots of talk for a long time now about Arsenal needing an out-an-out striker to finally get over the line and win a trophy. The club’s recent poor form in front of goal will no doubt heighten that noise. But the Gunners are failing to even create too many chances in recent weeks, and have been overly reliant on set-pieces this season. Without Ødegaard, Arsenal have lacked that bit of magic from central areas. Many have called for youngster Ethan Nwaneri to get more minutes, with the youngster shining in the EFL Cup scoring three goals in two games, but Arteta has been very cautious with the 17 year old. He still hasn’t started a Premier League game for the club.

Whilst it’s hard to compare this season’s Champions League league phase to last term’;s group stage, as illustrated in the graphic above, we can see that at the same stage last season after 10 Premier League games, Arsenal were six points better off and six goals better off than they are so far this campaign. The Gunners were actually unbeaten after 10 matches last season, and had also conceded three goals less. After Wednesday’s defeat to Inter, whilst he was not happy about the awarding of the penalty, Arteta also said, “I am very proud of my players, the level of domination we had. We were very harshly done by in the sense that is obvious.” It’s true there was a huge improvement to the extremely lacklustre display Arsenal mustered up at Newcastle on Saturday, but Arteta will be hoping that the injection of Ødegaard being back will get the Gunners back amongst the goals. They go to Chelsea on Sunday.