INTER starting XI (3-5-2): Sommer, Pavard, De Vrij, Bisseck, Dumfries, Frattesi (subbed for Barella), Calhanoglu (subbed for Asllani), Zielinski (subbed for Mkhitaryan), Darmian, Taremi (subbed for Dimarco), Lautaro (subbed for Thuram)

Bench: Josep Martinez, Di Gennaro, Acerbi, Bastoni, Buchanan, Arnautovic

Goals: Calhanoglu 45+3’ (Pen)

ARSENAL starting XI (4-3-3): Raya, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Timber (subbed for Zinchenko), Havertz (subbed for Odegaard), Partey, Merino (subbed for Jesus), Saka, Trossard (subbed for Nwaneri), Martinelli

Bench: Setford, Neto, Robinson, Kiwior, Jorginho, Lewis-Skelly, Sterling, Butler-Oyedeji

Inter are unbeaten on 10 points and in fifth place as one of only two teams - the other being Atalanta - who are yet to concede a goal.

A furious Mikel Arteta described Arsenal’s defeat as “very, very difficult to accept” - and said the Gunners should have been awarded a penalty after Mikel Merino was “punched” in the head.

Arsenal fell behind on the stroke of half-time in Milan when Inter were awarded a contentious penalty after Merino was adjudged to have handled the ball in the area. 

Merino might count himself unfortunate given he could do little to get out of the way of Mehdi Taremi’s flick-on.

Hakan Calhanoglu converted the ensuing spot-kick to send the Gunners to their second defeat in four days. 

Earlier in the opening period, Merino had his own penalty claim when Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer delivered an unintentional right hook to his head. 

Asked for his reaction to the hosts’ spot-kick, Arteta said: “I don’t understand. There is no danger at all. You cannot react because the ball is very close. 

“We were told at the start of the season that wasn’t a penalty. That was clear. Today it was a different story. But OK. They decide that is a penalty. 

“But if that is a penalty then the one on Mikel Merino where he punches him in the head has to be a penalty, 1000 per cent. These are the margins in this game and it’s very, very difficult to accept. 

“I am extremely frustrated because these are two decisions that marked the course of the game. Unfortunately, there is nothing we can do. We have to accept it and move on.” 

The defeat in the San Siro marked Arsenal’s second in a row after their 1-0 loss at Newcastle last weekend which cast them seven points adrift of Premier League table-toppers Liverpool. 

AAP