Arsenal goal-shy in Europepublished at 11:37 7 November
11:37 7 November
Arsenal's 1-0 defeat by Inter Milan on Wednesday was another display of their struggles in front of goal away from home in Europe - that is now four trips in a row where they have failed to find the net.
Mikel Arteta's side took 20 shots at San Siro, with an expected goals (xG) of 1.79 but failed to convert any of them.
That was their highest number without scoring in a Champions League fixture since November 2006 against CSKA Moscow (23).
In the summer, there was plenty of discussion about Arsenal needing to recruit a marquee striker to help them challenge for the Premier League and the Champions League. Their shot-shy nature in Europe has only reignited that debate.
Sporting Lisbon striker Viktor Gyokeres was one man heavily linked to a move to Emirates Stadium and after his hat-trick against Manchester City on Tuesday, what price him donning an Arsenal shirt in the future?
MOTD pundits reflect on 'bizarre' penalty incidentspublished at 10:56 7 November
10:56 7 November
The decision not to award Arsenal a penalty during their 1-0 defeat to Inter Milan on Wednesday was "bizarre" according to former Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock.
Mikel Arteta's side felt aggrieved not to have been awarded a spot kick for a foul on midfielder Mikel Merino by hosts goalkeeper Yann Sommer.
Speaking on BBC Match of the Day Champions League, Warnock said, "anywhere else on the pitch that is given as a foul".
The match was decided by a spotkick awarded to Inter Milan for handball by Merino at the other end, which was duly converted by Hakan Calhanoglu.
Dean: Disappointing result for Arsenal. Showed signs of urgency but couldn’t do much with the ball in the final third to trouble a strong defence. No plan B and severely lacking a target man to get the ball to. A poor result next at Chelsea could end the title challenge. Let's hope the return of Martin Odegaard can ignite some fire into this team.
Micky: Really disappointing as I thought we’d played a good game. One dubious penalty decision proved to be the difference. With a full strength team I’m positive Arsenal would have won.
Vee: As an Arsenal fan, we have to tell ourselves the truth. Mikel Arteta's stubbornness sometimes affects the team. For two games in a row, Arsenal have failed to score a goal. Even in the Champions League, Arsenal have scored just three goals which shows one thing; we need a playmaker such as Ethan Nwaneri pairing with Odegaard and a striker.
John: Thought Arsenal played reasonably well and were unfortunate as it was not a penalty. We are just missing a killer instinct in the area as we are not quick enough in thought. They get the ball and think too much. Fingers crossed Odegaard will be able to instil some impetus.
David: If the football authorities deem games are won by possession and corners, we would be world beaters. As it is, without Odegaard’s guile, we look as if we could play for days and not score. Lots of disappointing performances this season: especially Leandro Trossard, Kai Havertz, Thomas Partey and Gabriel Martinelli while Jurrien Timber and Mikel Merino haven’t added much. Very worried.
How much have Arsenal missed Odegaard?published at 08:39 7 November
08:39 7 November
Gary Rose BBC Sport journalist
Image source, Getty Images
Martin Odegaard has been out with an ankle injury since the end of August but came on for the final few minutes of stoppage time against Inter Milan.
While his introduction was too late to influence the outcome of the match, it bodes well for the midfielder being more involved in Sunday's crucial Premier League game with Chelsea.
Odegaard's influence for Arsenal is clear, with the below table highlighting just how much more likely the Gunners are to win in the Premier League with him in their side compared to without him.
Without Odegaard, Arsenal clearly miss a creative spark. Against Inter, they fired 46 crosses into the box but none proved effective.
They also attempted 20 shots in the match, their most without scoring in a single Champions League fixture since November 2006 against CSKA Moscow (23).
Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand said: "It's hugely frustrating - 46 crosses is the second most in the Champions League this season but the creativity, the imagination was not there.
"Odegaard has that little bit of imagination. Too often it was slung into the box without any idea.
"The quality he brings, the calmness the assuredness, the final pass. Those qualities are what set you apart and make you a great team."
Have Arsenal lost their attacking flow?published at 08:13 7 November
08:13 7 November
Image source, Getty Images
Former Arsenal centre-back Matthew Upson says Mikel Arteta's side are "a tiny bit one dimensional" at the moment and that allowed Inter Milan to play their own game in their Champions League defeat on Wednesday.
"I don't think they ran out of ideas," Upson told the BBC Radio 5 Live Football Daily podcast. "But they needed something different.
"Arsenal are just a tiny bit one dimensional at the moment. They have put a lot of focus on being more physical and their set-plays but it is in their open play that they can cut teams open. When they get teams penned in and move the ball quickly they are flying with their rhythm and are phenomenal.
"When they play like that, they can give anyone a game.
"But they have lost that side of their game a little bit and it's not as prevalent as it was. They have become a bit one dimensional and that allowed Inter to showcase their defensive skills because it played into what they are good at.
"It was still a good performance in terms of spirit and attitude. They didn't give up."
AC Milan, Inter Milan and Napoli fancy Arsenal defender Jakub Kiwior, 24, but the Gunners will only consider letting him leave permanently for a fee, not a loan switch. (Tutto Mercarto - in Italian), external
Inter Milan 1-0 Arsenal: Did you know?published at 22:49 6 November
22:49 6 November
Image source, PA Media
Arsenal attempted 20 shots in their 1-0 loss to Inter Milan on Wednesday, their most without scoring in a Champions League game since November 2006 against CSKA Moscow.
'We were very harshly done by'published at 22:35 6 November
22:35 6 November
Image source, Getty Images
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta, talking to TNT Sports after the 1-0 loss to Inter Milan in the Champions League:
"I am very proud of my players and the level of domination we had. We were very harshly done by in the sense that is obvious. Both penalties.
"If you are going to give a penalty, the other one has to be because he punches him in the head.
"There is no deflection, nothing you can do in the box, so can he get away from it. If he is going to give that, the other has to be 100% a penalty.
"We should have scored a couple at least but the way the team played, that was us at least. Every decision in the box makes a difference.
"The way we played tonight, the team can go to Chelsea and win."
'Nothing wrong with mentality and the way they're fighting'published at 22:18 6 November
22:18 6 November
Image source, PA Media
Former Arsenal centre-back Matthew Upson, speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live about the Gunners' 1-0 loss against Inter in the Champions League:
"The result is a big setback for Arsenal but it was a very good performance, in terms of how they handled the game and the chances created.
"There is going to be criticism about the fact that they're not getting enough goals and players are not finding that final touch, and that is a big problem for Arsenal at the moment.
"But the way they went about the game, there's nothing wrong in terms of the group of players, their mentality and the way they're fighting.
"There were a number of positives to take out of the performance, it just didn't have the result. It's not falling apart, the performance had a bit of backbone and spirit to it."
Ex-Gunners defender Martin Keown, speaking to TNT Sports:
"I don't think there is a massive crisis for Arsenal. I don't think they are far away from getting it right, yes they're not scoring goals, but Ethan Nwaneri coming on - he should have been on a bit earlier."
Inter Milan 1-0 Arsenal: Controversial penaltypublished at 22:13 6 November
22:13 6 November
Gary Rose BBC Sport journalist
Image source, Getty Images
Arsenal's unbeaten run in Europe this season is over, but they will likely feel aggrieved at the manner in which it was ended.
A penalty on the stroke of half-time, converted by Hakan Calhanoglu, secured a 1-0 win for Inter Milan, who defended valiantly to repel Arsenal's many efforts to grab an equaliser.
But it was the penalty decision that had pundits and fans talking at half-time, with Mikel Merino penalised for handball, although there was little he could have done to avoid making contact with the ball from a flick on.
"It's a crazy decision from the referee to award a penalty for that," former Arsenal defender Matt Upson said on BBC Radio 5 Live. "It's ruined our game to be honest," said ex-Gunners centre-back Martin Keown on TNT Sports.
Fortunately for Arsenal, the loss should not be too damaging. Having won two and drawn one of their three previous games in Europe they are still in a strong position to qualify from the league phase of the Champions League.
Instead, Arsenal fans should draw encouragement from their side's second-half display, where they had enough chances to win several games but found themselves up against some excellent goalkeeping and last-ditch defending.
Inter Milan 1-0 Arsenal - send us your thoughtspublished at 22:00 6 November
Is Gyokeres destined for the Premier League?published at 11:09 6 November
11:09 6 November
Katie Stafford BBC Sport journalist
Image source, Getty Images
If any team hopes to bolster their attack in the January or summer transfer window then Sporting Lisbon's number nine Viktor Gyokeres has to be in the conversation.
Following Tuesday's hat-trick against Manchester City in the Champions League, Gyokeres is the joint leading scorer in this season's most elite European competition with Harry Kane and has scored 66 goals in 67 matches for the reigning Primeira Liga champions.
The sceptics, who have argued the standard of football in Portugal is not that of Premier League, are likely to have been silenced by the striker's performance against the often dubbed 'best team in the world.'
So if the Sweden international is to be snapped up by an English club, where could he go?
Well, Gyokeres is not going to be cheap so it will have to be a club with long-term ambition and deep pockets. The 26-year-old is believed to have a release clause of 100m euros (£83m) despite only signing from Coventry City in 2023 for a fee close to £20m in 2023.
Premier League clubs were linked to Gyokeres while he was at the Championship club but it was Sporting who seized the opportunity to sign him.
The most obvious choice would be to follow head coach Ruben Amorim to Old Trafford. However, with the club already owning Rasmus Hojlund, Joshua Zirkzee and Antony it is unlikely they would sign Gyokeres without selling at least one.
Plus, it was Dan Ashworth - the current sporting director of United - that sold Gyokeres to Coventry for just £1m in 2021 from former club Brighton.
United's neighbours Manchester City could view Gyokeres as a long-term replacement for Erling Haaland should he leave the Etihad, and Sporting's director Hugo Viana may want to re-sign his Sporting star when he succeeds the outgoing Txiki Begiristain.
Liverpool could also be in the market if Mohamed Salah does not sign a new contract and departs Anfield after eight years next summer.
Chelsea, who have three strikers, have proven they like to spend big in recent transfer windows but it is their rivals in North London that appear to be the most obvious fit.
Fans and pundits have long said that Arsenal need a number nine.
Mikel Arteta's side would be formidable with a striker like Gyokeres and would be strong contenders in the league and Europe if he could replicate his form there.
"I could see that," columnist Nedum Onuoha told BBC Sport. "From the style of play that I have seen from him and the intelligence he has, he is a handful.
"If he comes to England then it is important to note that he is simply coming back because he has already got experience playing here and he knows the physical level required. He comes across as very coachable so in an Arsenal system it could really work for him and them.
"That is on the assumption that he is the sort of player that the Gunners are looking for."
In the meantime Gyokeres will no doubt continue to add to his price tag by doing what he does best - scoring.
'A lot of ground for Arsenal to make up'published at 09:30 6 November
09:30 6 November
Image source, Getty Images
Former Premier League defender Nedum Onuoha believes Arsenal are having "a bit of a wobble" but still thinks it's too early in the season to rule them out of the title race.
Speaking on BBC Sounds' Planet Premier League podcast, the former Manchester City defender said: "A little bit of a wobble is the best way to describe it, but it's coming at a time when Liverpool are very close to perfect - but I'm thinking it's so early in the season.
"Then I look at the table and it's seven points… in some of these title races, which is what we assume Arsenal will be expecting, that's a lot of ground to make up.”
Former Chelsea and Brighton manager Graham Potter also believes the Gunners have been "unlucky" given the injury lay-off Martin Odegaard has had, and that it has forced Mikel Arteta to ask questions about how they approach games.
"OK, how does the makeup of our team change and what sort of patterns that we have in midfield to adjust to the loss of him and I suppose that's where they've tried to find it," Potter said.
"All of a sudden, you’ve got Partey, Rice, Merino, it's not the same creativity, but they'll be hopeful that over time, those relationships will build up and the decision-making starts to become quicker.
"They can make those incisive passes or assists. But, I think that while you're dealing with the loss of such an influential player in the first place, that's always a problem.”
