Arsenal are mired in a stalemate. That is also a kind assessment. The Arsenal team had aspirations of winning the Premier League title at the outset of the season. There were also ambitions to advance in the Champions League.
Although their continental ambitions are still alive, their current performance is somewhat concerning. On Wednesday evening, they encountered another challenging period when they were defeated 1-0 by Inter for the second time in a row.
Everything that could possibly go awry is currently occurring. They have maintained only two clean sheets in their most recent seven games, despite their reputation for not conceding goals. It is not at all desirable.
Additionally, they are experiencing difficulty in locating the internet on a consistent basis. Martin Odegaard’s return to fitness during injury time at the San Siro was a welcome sight, as he had failed to score against Newcastle and now Inter.
Nevertheless, Chelsea is their next opponent. Gulp. There is no doubt that Mikel Arteta’s team will progress; however, they must do so expeditiously. The Spanish tactician must regain some momentum as the ship sinks without a trace.
Therefore, what was the source of the problems that occurred on Wednesday? Select your preferred option.
The reason for Arsenal’s Champions League defeat to Inter
Denzel Dumfries, a right-back who was on the attack, struck the crossbar with a rasping drive as he galloped forward, setting the tone early on.
Inter was unquestionably the superior team; however, the visiting team gained momentum as the game approached the halfway point. Nevertheless, Arsenal’s authorities were once again not its most trusted allies.
A ball was thrown in, deflected toward the goal, and then collided with the elbow of summer acquisition Mikel Merino. He was unable to take any action, and in the Premier League, it would have been prohibited due to the regulations governing the player’s proximity to the ball. However, the situation is distinct in Europe. Resolve that matter.
The penalty was awarded, and the dependable Hakan Calhanoglu effortlessly scored the goal. The English team responded with a valiant effort in the second half, but their efforts were ultimately unsuccessful.
Arsenal have struggled to establish consistent scoring opportunities in the absence of Odegaard. This was a comparable narrative to the one that transpired at St James’ Park; however, their xG was significantly superior on this occasion, increasing from a dismal 1.05 on Saturday to 2.22 in Milan.
Nevertheless, the overwhelming majority of their opportunities were generated by set-pieces or crosses in open play. Inter maintained their composure and resolutely defended a staggering 13 corners and 46 crosses, despite the Gunners’ tremendous success from wide areas.
Bukayo Saka’s boot contributed 19 of the projectiles that entered the box; however, he only managed to score three, which is a fair representation of the evening. Saka was animated; however, there were few other individuals in red or white who merited commendation.
Arsenal’s most significant underperformers in their match against Inter
The Gunners were as secure as fortresses at the back, with the exception of the penalty incident. It was during the attack that they exerted more effort.
Leandro Trossard, the Belgian sensation, was once again inadequate in a central attacking position and was outmatched by Ethan Nwaneri, who entered as a late substitute. You may be curious as to what the adolescent must do to initiate a game.
He was on the brink of salvaging a point for the visitors when he deceived defender Stefan de Vrij in the third minute of injury time, only to fire a shot that whistled over the bar.
Trossard also had a single attempt at goal, but it was remarkably unremarkable. His overall performance was disappointing, as he only made two critical passes and frequently lost possession.
Nevertheless, Gabriel Martinelli is also deserving of criticism. The Brazilian is an exhilarating performer when he is at his best; however, his performance has been subpar over the past year.
The former Ituano star is frequently isolated on the left-hand side and lacks support from his teammates. However, this was yet another match in which he was indecisive and lacked confidence in his final actions.
The Express awarded him a 4/10 match rating, and they succinctly concluded that he “must begin to stamp his authority on matches on a more frequent basis.”
That was once again absent from a player who surrendered the ball a staggering 16 times on Wednesday night, as well as completing only five of his 13 crosses and winning six of his nine duels. After the game, Arsenal writer Oli Price Bates expressed on social media that he would have left the manager “fuming” due to his inability to create scoring opportunities.
Although Sofascore ranked him as the most outstanding performer on the field, it fails to adequately describe a performance that was devoid of quality.
Despite the fact that Raheem Sterling will be ineligible to face his parent club at the weekend, Martinelli must be axed. In recent weeks, Gabriel Jesus has demonstrated intermittent indications of revival, including scoring against Preston last week. He may be utilized from the left as a result.
Trossard continues to be a viable option for playing on the flanks, where he appears to be more at ease than in the center. It is now your turn, Mikel. Something must be altered.
