Arsenal huffed and puffed at the San Siro but were ultimately unable to avoid defeat against Inter Milan on Wednesday evening.
The Gunners were unbeaten in the Champions League this season heading into this fixture, having previously drawn against Atalanta, before beating PSG and Shakhtar Donetsk.
However, off the back of a Premier League defeat against Newcastle United, Arsenal’s poor form continued onto the continental stage.
Mikel Arteta praised aspects of Arsenal’s display vs Inter Milan, but nothing the North London club did was enough to break the Italian outfit’s resolve.
Arsenal repeat 2006 Champions League feat vs Inter Milan
In the second half especially, Arsenal enjoyed plenty of possession and territory against the Serie A side.
However, there is certainly an argument to be made that the hosts were happy and comfortable to cede the ball to the English team. Inter Milan still posed a threat to Arsenal on the break.
The Gunners were able to get the ball into encouraging positions. As highlighted by OptaJoe on X: “Arsenal attempted 20 shots in this match, their most without scoring in a single UEFA Champions League fixture since November 2006 against CSKA Moscow (23).”
That clash with the Russian side ended in a 0-0 draw.
Despite taking so many shots against Inter Milan, they were unable to greatly test goalkeeper Yann Sommer on many occasions. To have once again have had so many efforts in a Champions League game without scoring is a feat that Arteta won’t be pleased to have repeated.
Mikel Arteta’s huge Arsenal problem revealed
Ahead of this match, Lukas Podolski warned Arsenal that their lack of a goalscorer could cost them against Inter Milan, and it proved to be the case.
Kai Havertz has generally led the line well for the Gunners, but he has never been the most prolific of forwards. Leandro Trossard is also in poor form, and the likes of Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus have been underperforming in front of goal too.
Arsenal have needed to sign a striker for a long time, and a lack of a killer instinct in the final third was their undoing in the San Siro, and could also prove to be the factor that prevents the club from achieving their Premier League title dream this season.
Arsenal’s problem isn’t making chances, it’s putting them away, and Arteta must address this issue in the upcoming January transfer window.
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