Italy’s media name £31m Arsenal star as ‘flop’ of the match after what he did vs Inter Milan

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Arsenal suffered a 1-0 defeat to Inter Milan in the Champions League at the San Siro.

The Gunners produced a much-improved performance compared to the one against Newcastle United, and an argument can be made that they were even the better team.

However, Simone Inzaghi’s side did what they had to do brilliantly and secured a 1-0 victory thanks to Hakan Calhanoglou’s goal from the penalty spot.

The Italian press have had a lot to say about one Arsenal player after the Champions League clash on Wednesday night.

Mikel Merino named as the ‘flop’ by Italy’s media after Inter Milan beat Arsenal

Arsenal signed Mikel Merino from Real Sociedad in the summer for £31.6 million (BBC).

The Spaniard was a player Mikel Arteta desperately wanted to sign. Arsenal even broke their own transfer policy to sign Merino because their manager demanded his arrival.

The 28-year-old is a terrific player, but he has had a tough start to life at Arsenal. He suffered an injury right after he arrived and still doesn’t look like he’s at his peak physical condition.

The former Sociedad star started in midfield for Arsenal against Inter Milan on Wednesday night, and he struggled with the pace of the game at times.

Then, to make things worse, Merino was penalised for a handball inside the box just before half-time. That penalty decided the game.

Italian media outlets have had their say on Merino after the game, and they think he was Arsenal’s worst player at the San Siro.

Calciomercato.it wrote about Merino after branding him as the ‘flop’: “Forceful and voluntary hand in the penalty area, which condemns Arsenal to a new defeat.

“The distraction of the Spanish European champion, all things considered, costs the Gunners dearly. Slow pace even in the midfield: Arteta brings him out at half-time.”

Eurosport Italy named Merino as the player who ‘failed’ during Inter Milan vs Arsenal. They wrote: “First, he risks getting a penalty by anticipating Sommer in the air, then he sends Calhanoglu from eleven meters ruining Arsenal’s good first half.

“His is a serious naivety: his arm is very wide on Taremi’s deviation. Also, bad in interdiction, several times lacking in lightness in contrasts. Arteta doesn’t forgive him and leaves him in the locker room at half-time.”

Mikel Merino was involved in another big incident

Merino’s hands were up in the air when the ball struck him, and after the referee pointed to the spot, the VAR was never going to overturn that decision.

Martin Keown and Rio Ferdinand both felt that it wasn’t a penalty, and we agree with them. Merino has every right to feel hard done by.

What makes it worse is that the Spaniard should’ve won a penalty himself, but the referee and the VAR disagreed with everyone else who watched what happened.

The Arsenal midfielder got punched in the head by Yann Sommer while the Inter Milan goalkeeper was trying to punch the ball away. He completely missed the ball and caught Merino, and that was worthy of a penalty.

That decision went against Arsenal, and it was the reason why they ended up on the losing side at the San Siro.