INTER-ARSENAL 1-0
(45’+3 Calhanoglu)
Inter’s report cards – Edited by Ivan Cardia
Summer 6.5 – It gives the feeling of not trusting the slimy ball and it gives him some thrills, they also risk a penalty in the aerial tackle with Merino. On Havertz he misreads the trajectory but in the end he gets away with it. In the episode, and also in general.
Pavard 6.5 – A lot of anti-aircraft work: sometimes it passes through his area, but overall it holds up.
De Vrij 7 – It grows in the final, when it is the bulwark on which the Nerazzurri fort rests against the London siege.
Bisseck 7.5 – He also saves Sommer from the siege of the Gunners. He doesn’t let his opponents pass and proposes himself, often even on the other side of the pitch. Maturity test: let’s call it a big match.
Dumfries 7 – He starts with a bang: control and shot, only the crossbar tells him no. He alternates bucking with some technical inaccuracies in the recovery, however at high levels. And he also scores a save on the line which is like a goal.
Frattesi 5.5 – Arsenal’s defensive shirts offer no openings to break into: in their absence, they struggle to express themselves. Twelve touches and four turnovers in an hour of play. (From 61′ Barella 6 – He comes in and gets a yellow card, Inzaghi places him on the right).
Calhanoglu 7 – He returns and it’s as if he had never been missing: Inter are more fluid, more natural. He doesn’t disappoint from the spot: 19 out of 19 since joining the Nerazzurri. (From 71′ Asllani 6 – The comparison is difficult, like his teammates, Inter are only thinking about prolonging their breathlessness).
Zielinski 6.5 – Great support for his teammates on the feared Saka, he closes and cleans up the Nerazzurri’s game. (From 61′ Mkhitaryan 6 – Of the replacements, he is the one who contributes the most.)
Darmian 7.5 – Mister Wolf solves problems, placing himself where the team needs him. He stamps Saka and takes him out of the match. He is the player that all coaches would like, and perhaps Spalletti would also do well to think again.
Taremi 6 – His turn leads to the penalty that unlocks the match. It is the sharp point in a grumpy match, in which the blows (given and received) outweigh the plays. (From 79′ Dimarco sv).
Lautaro 6 – More of a link than a leading player: little can be seen in the area, but he offers more than one opening. Not always made the most of by teammates. (From 61′ Thuram 6 – He turns San Siro on and off when he stops on the only real run of his match).
Simone Inzaghi 7 – These are three platinum points, four days before the championship match against Conte. Even with the awareness of having to defend himself: in the second half he raises the barricades, sets up 4-5-1 and takes it home. It’s not his belief, but after an evening with Trapattoni he will ask himself: how good is it to get rid of it?
Arsenal report cards – By Paolo Lora Lamia
Raya 6 – Saved by the crossbar after 2 minutes, he doesn’t perform a miracle on Calhanoglu’s penalty. For the rest, it is practically never used.
White 6 – Very stuck on the right, he does his duty in terms of containment against Darmian and in the end also against Dimarco.
Saliba 6.5 – Very punctual in his closings, he rarely concedes anything to anyone who shows up in the area. Among the best in the Gunners.
Gabriel 6.5 – Together with Saliba, he forms an extremely tough defensive tandem that gives little to Inter’s attack.
Timber 5.5 – He has a lot to do against Dumfries, who he barely contains on more than one occasion. Also insufficient in terms of thrust. From 82′ Zinchenko sv.
Partey 6 – Tiring start, but then he handles the impact in the median with ever greater effectiveness, earning a passing grade overall.
Merino 5 – In addition to not particularly shining in the middle of the pitch, it also caused the penalty with which Calhanoglu opened the match. From 46′ Gabriel Jesus 5.5 – He should give more weight to the attack, but he fails in this task requested by Arteta.
Saka 5 – A couple of shots on the right, but it’s certainly not one of his best nights. Even worse during the second half.
Trossard 5 – He starts in the attacking midfield and then varies across the entire attacking front, but appears decidedly anonymous in the final metres. From 82′ Nwaneri sv.
Martinelli 5.5 – The least negative of the trio among the Gunners’ lines. He continues his crosses with which he tries to serve his teammates, but not always with the necessary precision.
Havertz 5.5 – He struggles to find his place on the pitch, rarely emerging when Arsenal appear forward. Something more after the break, but in general his performance is not positive. From 92′ Odegaard sv.
Mikel Arteta 5 – A reaction was required from his team after the latest defeats, but the proof provided tonight is not what was hoped for. Paid a high price for an episode and then continued presence in the offensive zone, but which did not translate into many scoring opportunities. Furthermore, his changes are perhaps late.