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    Arsenal player ratings vs Inter: Martinelli tries dragging troops through but Merino poor as he gives away penalty

    TOOTHLESS Arsenal were beaten by a superb Italian job in Milan as they lost 1-0 thanks to a controversial penalty.After losing at the weekend, Mikel Arteta was hoping his team could bounce back with a win in the Champions League.Mikel Arteta saw Arsenal fall to a frustrating 1-0 lossCredit: GettyMikel Merino disappointing before he gave away a controversial penalty for handballCredit: GettyGabriel Martinelli was a threat throughoutCredit: GettyThey were adamant they should have had a penalty in the first half when Mikel Merino was seemingly punched in the head by Yann Sommer as the Swiss international cleared the ball away.However, in first-half injury time, Merino was involved again at the other end as he gave away a penalty when the ball struck his raised hand from close range.That was converted by Hakan Calhanoglu, and Arteta rang the changes by introducing Gabriel Jesus at half-time.But the Gunners seemed to have wet powder at the San Siro as their attacking efforts fell flat, with many of their usual suspects in attack flattering to deceive.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLDavid Raya – 6Unfortunate with the penalty on an otherwise quiet night.Passing was below par with on three out of nine long passes finding their mark.Ben White – 7Dependable as ever at right back.Can’t be blamed for the defeat from a defensive standpoint.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSWilliam Saliba – 7Marshalled defence well and produced some strong passes. Three clearances and six duels won said everything about his performance.Huge Arsenal boost as Martin Odegaard returns to training ahead of Inter Milan clash Gabriel Magalhaes – 7Had a slightly better time in duels than Saliba but was worse on the ball.Booked.Jurrien Timber – 7 (off Zinchenko 82 mins)Had a good rapport with Martinelli down the left flank.Dependable like the rest of the defence but undone by the controversial penalty call.Mikel Merino – 5 (off for Jesus half-time)Difficult to see what he brings to the midfield at the moment. Clearly Arteta likes his height and strength, but not on the same wavelength as team-mates tonight.Unlucky to give away the penalty for handball after being clattered by Sommer earlier on in the evening.Thomas Partey – 6Should have been given more licence to roam forward in the second half.But didn’t look like he had the legs to do that job.Bukayo Saka – 6Captain for the night with Odegaard only fit for the bench.Saka was always a threat, but all too often or not chose the wrong option to go inside or out.Gabriel Martinelli – 7Flashes of brilliance and a thorn throughout the clash.Created four chances but team-mates were unable to help him out.Kai Havertz – 6 (off Odegaard 90 mins)Couple of flashes of brilliance, including a beautiful curled effort at goal that forced Sommer to punch clear, but needed to be a stronger force up top.Went off with a bloody head in injury time.Leandro Trossard – 6 (off Nwaneri 82 mins)Buzzed around and had threatening moments.But just didn’t get the ball enough in dangerous positions.SubstitutesGabriel Jesus (on half-time for Merino) – 6Didn’t offer much after coming on. Booked.Oleksandr Zinchenko (on Timber) – 6Tidy in possession but rarely moved the ball forward.READ MORE SUN STORIESEthan Nwaneri (on Trossard 82 mins) – 6Skied a shot over the bar in injury time.Martin Odegaard (on Havertz 90 mins) – N/ANot enough time to make impact. More

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    Inter 1 Arsenal 0: Gunners slide down Champions League table as controversial penalty inflicts more misery on Arteta

    THE San Siro once played host to one of Arsenal’s greatest ever European victories.In November 2003, Arsene Wenger’s majestic Invincibles smashed Javier Zanetti’s Inter Milan 5-1 thanks to a Thierry Henry-inspired away-day Champions League masterpiece.Hakan Calhanoglu converts from the penalty spotCredit: GettyIt was enough to separate the sidesCredit: GettyYet 21 years on, this was anything but as Mikel Arteta’s Gunners fell to a miserable third defeat in six games in all competitions – one more painful bump in the road this term.In the new 36-team league format, with four games still to play, this first Euro defeat – thanks to Hakan Calhanoglu’s first half injury time penalty – is not fatal in their quest to qualify.Instead, it simply acts as another confidence-shattering and pressure-heaping result for a group of players that look weighed down by expectation.Arteta’s Arsenal are not in a good place. Their belief drained, their optimism fading, all before what now looks to be a serious season-definer away at Chelsea on Sunday.READ MORE IN footballLose that, and they could be TEN points off leaders Liverpool. Title race over in mid-November?Among those San Siro legends in red and white were Henry, recently departed Sporting Director Edu and Robert Pires. Generational heroes.There were none on show last night against Simone Inzaghi’s brick-wall Inter set-up. An Arsenal team that once sparkled is beginning to lose its shine.Arsenal are now at the backend of their injury ‘crisis’ with skipper Martin Odegaard on the bench – his first squad involvement since August 31 after a prolonged ankle issue.Most read in FootballHowever, Declan Rice was watching this one from home with a foot problem, allowing Thomas Partey to slot back into midfield and Ben White to return to right back.The visitors tried to start on the front foot only to be hit by an early scatter gun of Inter chances. Denzel Dumfries controlled a cross in the box before unleashing a cannon of a volley off the bar.Hilarious moment Mikel Arteta ‘fines’ journalist during press conference as brutal discipline rules apply to everyoneCalhanoglu then skimmed a bobbled shot from range just wide of David Raya’s right-hand post. The Spanish keeper was coming under attack from all areas.The hosts could smell blood, as could the brilliantly mad supporters filling this cathedral of noise. Partey was soft again but Mehdi Taremi’s cross was just cut out.Arsenal were being made to fight for every opening, but even when they were presented with a chance, it was scrappy and unconvincing.Frustration brewed. Before a rare foray forward and a first corner, Gabriel was booked – as well as his marker Lautaro Martinez – for a pretty petty shoving match.There were soon signs of life, Saka showing incredible strength on the halfway line against Yann Bisseck to send Gabriel Martinelli on a gallop down the left.The Brazilian’s cross was a yard too heavy for the incoming Mikel Merino. Saka then had some space to attack down the right, firing a shot of his own straight at Yann Sommer.Another Martinelli cross was more accurate as Merino showed bravery in the air. As a reward, he was clobbered by a heavy-fisted Sommer.Merino did well to get back up quickly while Sommer awaited a VAR check. The Swiss shot-stopper appeared to get a slight glance on the ball before taking Merino’s head off.Inter looked to be content with sitting in as Arsenal’s influence grew.Merino was adjudged to have handled itCalhanoglu’s spot kick separated the sidesCredit: AFPThree successive corners towards the end of the half came to nothing and Inter countered forcing William Saliba to put in a surprisingly unpunished timely foul.Taremi’s flick on hit Merino’s arm and in response, referee Istvan Kovacs pointed his arm to the spot as the clock ticked over to first half injury time.Merino looked baffled, and rightly so. His arm was barely outstretched and had little to no time to react or get out of the way from such close range.This was a harsh call, but one we have come to expect in the Champions League with European officials in charge, even if VAR did take their time in deeming it fair.It was an agonising wait for Calhanoglu with the ball on the spot, not that it showed in his finish down the middle.Raya was the hero in Bergamo with his spot-kick double-save to earn a 0-0 draw at Atalanta in Arsenal’s opener, but he could not produce a similar rescue act here.Arsenal trudged into half-time. To get anything, they would have to score against a side with more Champions League clean sheets than any other side over the past three seasons.Arteta sought a reaction, bringing off Merino for Gabriel Jesus and shoving Kai Havertz back into midfield, and got just that apart from the final finish.Saliba and Gabriel came close from corners, the latter seeing a flicked effort cleared off the line, and a dinked curler from Havertz almost caught out Sommer.READ MORE SUN STORIESHavertz then found space in the box with a snatched volley superbly deflected wide by Bisseck. Inter stood firm and were typically Italian in their slowing down of the game.It made Arteta irate, booked for his protests. The pressure is mounting to turn this around, and he knows it.Mikel Arteta looks on in frustrationCredit: Getty More

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    Kai Havertz left with blood pouring from his head after Arsenal star’s sickening clash of heads

    KAI HAVERTZ was forced off with a bloodied face in the dying embers of Arsenal’s 1-0 Champions League defeat to Inter Milan.The Gunners’ star was involved in a horrid head collision with an Inter Milan player, leaving him with blood pouting down his face.Kai Havertz was left covered in blood after a sickening head collisionCredit: TNT SPORTSHavertz jumped up to try and win a header at a cornerCredit: BEINSPORTSHe clashed heads with Yann Aurel BisseckCredit: RexBoth players were left on the floor after the collisionCredit: PAArsenal were pushing for a late equaliser against the Italian giants when Havertz committed to a header in the box.Unfortunately for the German, Inter defender Yann Aurel Bisseck was just as enthusiastic to clear the ball and the pair clashed heads in the air.It was Havertz who came off worse as Bisseck’s head bashed straight into his eye.The 25-year-old needed immediate medical attention from the Arsenal staff as blood poured down his face.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLMikel Arteta was ultimately forced to withdraw his centre-forward.But in a silver lining to a horrid moment, Havertz was replaced by Martin Odegaard – who returned to the pitch for the first time since suffering an ankle injury on international duty for Norway in September.But even the return of Arsenal’s captain and playmaker couldn’t get the Gunners over the line with any points to bring back to North London.Arteta’s side were unable to find the back of the net and lost their first Champions League game of the season, conceding their first goal in the competition this term too.Most read in FootballHavertz was covered in blood after the head clashCredit: GettyHe was removed from the pitch by Arsenal medical staffCredit: GettyMartin Odegaard replaced the GermanCredit: GettyFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSThe 1-0 defeat came after a controversial penalty decision in the first half.Inter were awarded the spot-kick for a handball offence by Mikel Merino, but Arsenal fans and players were convinced that the Spaniard was too close to the initial contact for it to be given.Jamie Carragher SAVAGES Arsenal on Monday Night Football and says they’re ‘like a Mourinho team without the trophies’But Uefa’s handball rules meant that Merino was deemed to have handled the ball with his arm in an unnatural position and Hakan Çalhanoğlu dispatched the resulting penalty.There’s no rest for Arsenal now either with a trip to face Premier League rivals Chelsea next up this weekend. More

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    Arsenal looking for solutions after fixture clash forces move of Women’s Champions League game from Emirates 

    ARSENAL have been forced to shift their Women’s Champions League battle with Bayern Munich from the Emirates due to a rescheduled Carabao Cup game. Fixture clash issues have left the Gunners seeking new alternatives for the December 18 match with the German giants. Meadow Park is being looked at as a potential alternative for Arsenal’s Women’s Champions League clash with BayernCredit: AlamyIn May Arsenal announced plans to host all its Women’s Champions League home games at the Emirates, should the team progress beyond the contest qualifiers.However they are facing a venue dilemma. Earlier today the EFL confirmed December 18 as the chosen date for their men’s team’s League Cup quarters battle with Crystal Palace. This means the club have the dilemma of looking for a new venue for their clash with Germany’s top-flight leaders. Read More Football StoriesSunSport understands officials are looking into solutions including the possibility of using Meadow Park as an alternative. The stadium, which is home to National League South side Boreham Wood FC, does not meet Uefa Infrastructure Regulations for Women’s Champions League group games.  However it is thought the extenuating circumstances of their match being moved from the Emirates could lead to use of the ground being considered. One Gunners fan group expressed dismay at the match being moved from the Emirates. Most read in FootballThe Arsenal Women’s Supporters Trust stated they were “really disappointed by the change in priorities for this game”. In a post published on the social media platform X they wrote: “It’s been set in stone for a while. “Now shifting the date affects so many people, especially travelling and international Gooners who have already booked flights and hotels.”Arsenal will face Brighton in the WSL on Friday 8 DecemberCredit: GettyAside from their European fixtures Arsenal are hosting all their WSL home games at the Emirates this term. Last May the Gunners drew the largest ever crowd to a women’s club match in England. A crowd of 60,063 attended their Champions League semi-final second leg defeat of Wolfsburg. More

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    Arsenal fans fume after conceding ‘diabolical’ penalty just seconds after Lautaro Martinez controversially avoids red

    ARSENAL fans have been left seething after conceding a controversial penalty during their Champions League clash with Inter Milan.The Gunners fell 1-0 down just before half-time after Mikel Merino deemed to have handled the ball inside the area, resulting in a penalty for Inter.Arsenal fans have been left fuming after conceding a controversial penalty against Inter MilanCredit: GettyThe ball struck the hand of Mikel Merino inside the areaHakan Calhanoglu dispatched the penalty to give Inter the leadCredit: GettyThat penalty was tucked away confidently by Hakan Calhanoglu and Inter took the lead with their first shot on target.But Arsenal fans don’t think that the Italian giants should have had a penalty in the first place, slamming the decision as “diabolical”.The ball clearly struck Merino on the hand, but the Spaniard was in close proximity to Mehdi Taremi when the ball bounced onto his arm.And Arsenal fans think that Inter star Lautaro Martinez should have been dismissed too, just moments before the spot-kick was awarded.READ MORE ON FOOTBALLThe Argentine was booked in the 16th minute for some pushing and shoving in the box, but risked a second yellow when he gestured to the referee to book William Saliba later in the half.Fortunately for Martinez, Romanian official István Kovács chose not to reach into his pocket and dismiss him for the offence.That left Arsenal fans seething with many reacting on social media.One fan wrote: “Am I dreaming or did Lautaro ask the ref to book Saliba which is a bookable offence while being on a booking?”Most read in FootballArsenal fans felt Lautaro Martinez should have been shown a second yellow cardCredit: EPAFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSWhile another fumed: “Lautaro waving for the imaginary yellow is suppose to be a card I thought.. A second for him.”A third commented: “Never a penalty that for Inter Milan. And if we are going down the ‘letter of the law’, then Lautaro Martinez should have received a second yellow card for asking for an opponent to be booked.”Thierry Henry aims huge dig at Arsenal in awkward CBS Sports moment as fans ask ‘why are you s***ting on your own club?And a fourth blasted: “Lautaro waving imaginary yellow and doesn’t get his second for it. They then get a ridiculously soft pen… what’s Merino supposed to do???”Arsenal fans had felt hard done by earlier in the half too, claiming they deserved a penalty themselves.Merino was involved once again as the summer signing leapt up for a header at a corner kick and collided with Yann Sommer.The Swiss shot-stopper jumped up to try and punch the ball away from trouble and ended up punching Merino in the head instead.But after a swift VAR review it was deemed that there was no significant error.Yann Sommer appeared to punch Mikel Merino in the head early in the first halfCredit: AP More

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    Champions League clash delayed as metro station evacuated after fans light pyrotechnics inside station

    BAYERN MUNICH’S Champions League clash against Benfica was delayed due to a problem with the subway system as a separate incident saw a station evacuated.The German giants were due to take on the visiting Portuguese side at 8pm.Apparent Benfica fans had lit up pyrotechnics in a metro stationBut train delays had seen the match delayed by 15 minutesCredit: XIt was announced that the match kick-off had been delayed by 15 minutes due to a signal box malfunction.However, footage from inside a city centre metro station shared to social media showed chaos erupt before the Odeonsplatz station was evacuated.It came as apparent Benfica fans lit up pyrotechnics before throwing them towards a train.A statement from the Bavarian club said: “Due to the difficulty of many stadium visitors getting to the stadium, kick-off will be delayed by 15 minutes. READ MORE IN FOOTBALL”The signal box malfunction has now been resolved.”A follow up statement added: “Due to a signal box malfunction, there are currently delays in the subway traffic towards the stadium/Fröttmaning. “Stadium visitors are therefore asked to use other means of transport if possible.”Bayern, managed by Vincent Kompany, had just one win from three games and two defeats in the Champions League on their record before the match.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSMeanwhile, Benfica had two wins from three with one defeat.The game eventually kicked off at the delayed restart time.Jamal Musiala’s second-half strike was enough to separate the teams. More

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    Shakhtar fan left gutted as mate knocks beer out of his hand during goal celebration

    A SHAKHTAR DONETSK fan was left distraught after their beer was knocked out of their hands.During the Ukrainian club’s Champions League group stage clash with Young Boys on Wednesday, Shakhtar were able to celebrate two first-half goals.A Shakhtar Donetsk fan was left distraught after seeing his beer knocked from his handsIt came during celebrations for the Ukrainian club’s match-winning goalA friend was seen taking a flag from around their neckBut he knocked the cup out of his mate’s hand while doing soThe fan was left with their head in their hands over the spilled drinkKastroit Imeri had fired Young Boys in front before Oleksandr Zubkov equalised moments later.Heorhiy Sudakov then put the hosts ahead minutes before half-time.Fans went wild in the stands, though one saw their emotions go from ecstasy to agony.The fan, who had an orange flag wrapped around their neck, was seen holding a blue cup, presumably full of beer – fans in Europe are permitted to drink alcohol in view of the pitch, unlike the UK.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLHowever, as another fan next to him started waving their own orange flag when moving it over their neck, disaster struck.As the fellow fan took the flag with his left arm he then moved it down, which ended up hitting the drink out of the right hand of his fellow matchgoer.The fan who had the beer could do nothing but look down at his tragically lost drink, before putting his hands on his head in disbelief.They were then seen appearing to say something to the culprit who knocked their beer over, before stopping themselves while the other fan continued to celebrate.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSThe game ended up remaining 2-1 to the hosts, marking their first win in the Champions League this season.The match was played at the VELTINS-Arena, the usual home ground of German club Schalke, due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.Inside Viktor Gyokeres’ glamorous life, from dating fellow footballer and actress to luxury holidays around world More

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    Club Brugge 1 Aston Villa 0: Tyrone Mings PICKS UP ball to give away decisive penalty and end 100% winning record

    ASTON VILLA paid the harshest penalty possible after conceding the craziest goal in their 150-year-history to wreck their 100% Champions League record.Unfortunately Tyrone Mings will never forget his Champions League debut – for all the wrong reasons – after producing one of the biggest gaffes ever seen at this level.Aston Villa waved goodbye to their 100% record in this year’s Champions LeagueCredit: AlamyClub Brugge’s Hans Vanaken dispatched a penalty to win his side all three pointsCredit: PAThere seemed little to get excited about when Emi Martinez rolled the ball to his big defender at a goal kick.Until Mings reached down with his left hand, stopped the ball and proceeded to place it at the edge of his six yard box in a moment of madness!Suddenly all hell broke loose as Brugge’s clued-up players screamed foul and German ref Tobias Stieler agreed and pointed to the spot.Mings was stunned and protested his innocence along with Martinez.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLBut his defence was flimsy because he really should have been aware that Martinez had passed the ball rather than rolled it to him!Hans Vanaken kept his cool to send Villa’s spot-kick-king the wrong way from the resultant penalty and shell-shocked Villa never recovered.Unai Emery has taken charge of 190 European ties but he can never have lost one in such bizarre circumstances.It brought back memories of Gabriel’s let-off for Arsenal against Bayern Munich last season under similar circumstances.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSOn that occasion the Gunner was given a reprieve because the referee claimed it wasn’t in the spirit of the game to award a penalty.Unfortunately for Mings and Villa, referee Stieler was a stickler for the letter of the law.Aston Villa fans spot what Unai Emery did immediately after win over Bayern Munich as they say ‘what a man’So Villa and their stunned supporters were left to nurse a massive hangover in the beer capital of Europe.Yet Emery had every right to feel confident as he entered Club Brugge’s atmospheric Jan Breydelstadion on the second anniversary of his first match in charge of Villa.Unbeaten in four previous Champions League ties against Belgian opposition, he had won the last three with an aggregate score of 16-0.Emery led Valencia to a 7-0 win over Genk in 2011 and followed that up with a 9-0 aggregate win when his Paris Saint Germain team steam-rollered Anderlecht in 2017.That must have had Bruges goalkeeper Simon Mignolet quaking in his boots as he looked to improve on his own miserable Champions League record.The former Liverpool No.1 had conceded a goal every 46 minutes – the worst ratio of any keeper to play more than 2,500 minutes in the competition.Emery even felt confident enough to hand Tyrone Mings a Champions League debut of fire, 15 months after his horror ACL injury at Newcastle.Unfortunately it backfired on them both so unexpectedly!It took nine minutes for Villa to threaten when Ollie Watkins collected in space and ran at Brugge’s exposed defence.Tyrone Mings was at fault for the penaltyCredit: GettyThe defender PICKED UP the ball inside his own boxCredit: TNT SPORTSMings was hooked by Unai Emery after his errorCredit: GettyBut 20-year-old Ecuadorian Joel Ordonez read the danger brilliantly and expertly dispossessed the England striker.Youri Tielemans was singled out for treatment by the home support throughout, after starting his career with Brugge’s fierce rivals Anderlecht.And their jeers turned to ironic cheers when the Belgian international blazed a shot well over from the edge of the penalty area.Brugge responded with the first shot on target as Maxim De Cuyper tested Emi Martinez following a short free kick.Then Ordonez just failed to play in striker Ferran Jutgla with a searching through pass which he was inches away from.Watkins shot inches wide and John McGinn headed well over from seven yards as Villa got back on the front foot.But Brugge were growing in confidence and Mings turned back the clock with a brilliant goal line clearance to deflect Casper Nielsen’s netbound header which had beaten Martinez.Ardon Jashari pounced on the rebound but Martinez recovered to save.However Villa were living dangerously and came within a fraction of falling behind on the half hour.Ferran Jutgla’s fierce shot from inside the box was brilliantly touched onto the post by Emi Martinez, who then saved Christos Tzolis’s rebound.Villa made it to half-time intact but despite enjoying more than 60% of possession they have ridden their luck at times with Brugge rattling off five shots on target to the visitors’ one.But their luck ran out seven minutes after the break when they conceded one of the craziest goals ever – from their own goal kick!Martinez rolled the ball to Mings who picked the ball up and placed it in the corner of the six yard box to presumably take it himself.But credit the razor-sharp Brugge players who spotted an opportunity and frantically claimed for a penalty for handball.German referee Stieler agreed that Mings should have known the ball was in play and penalised Villa’s comeback man who couldn’t believe his misfortune.Hans Vanaken beat Martinez from the spot and Brugge were ahead in the most bizarre circumstances.Unai Emery received a lecture from Stieler for his protests and then played his joker as he sent on super sub Jhon Duran for McGinn.But Brugge were in control and Andreas Skov Olsen fired over as Villa continued to reel from the shock loss of THAT goal!READ MORE SUN STORIESThen sub Bjorn Meier squandered a golden opportunity to put the tie beyond Villa as he shot wide from close range with the goal at his mercy.In truth Villa surrendered with a whimper as they failed to recover from Mings’ moment of madness!Villa will have to bounce back from a lacklustre performanceCredit: RexThings don’t get much easier for the Villans More