Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer was at the center of controversy during Inter Milan's narrow 1-0 victory over Arsenal in the UEFA Champions League at the San Siro on November 6, 2024.
In a dramatic moment, Sommer completely missed the ball and instead made contact with Mikel Merino's head while attempting to clear an Arsenal cross. Despite the appeals from Arsenal players, VAR did not intervene, and the referee allowed play to continue.
The decisive moment of the match came just before halftime when Inter Milan was awarded a penalty. Mehdi Taremi's flick deflected off Merino's arm, leading to the spot kick. Hakan Calhanoglu stepped up and confidently converted, giving Inter a crucial lead.
Arsenal's frustration grew as they struggled to find an equalizer. Manager Mikel Arteta voiced his discontent with the officiating, particularly the decision not to penalize Sommer's challenge on Merino. "You could get a penalty there! Merino headed the ball and then Sommer comes and punches his head off. He literally has double punched his head off. It should be a penalty," Arteta told TNT Sports.
Despite their best efforts, Arsenal couldn't break through Inter's resilient defense. William Saliba had a golden opportunity but was denied by Inter defender Yann Bisseck, and Kai Havertz was expertly thwarted by the home side's backline.
This victory propels Inter Milan to fifth in the Champions League table with 10 points from their opening four games, while Arsenal drops to 12th after suffering their first defeat of the season.
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