Mikel Arteta and Mikel Merino were both at the heart of some refereeing decisions as Arsenal lost to Inter Milan(Image: Jonathan Moscrop/Getty Images / BBC / Match of the Day / TNT Sports)

Merino handball, denied penalty and Arteta red card luck - Arsenal vs Inter Milan referee review

07 Nov 2024, 13:00 by Tom Canton · football.london

Arsenal were unfortunate not to come away with more from their defeat in the San Siro on Wednesday night which extended their poor run of results. They were punished by a controversial penalty call and not rewarded one at the other end on the night.

46 crosses were sent into the Inter box but none led to a goal for the Gunners as pressure increased on Mikel Arteta. There was plenty of fallout and discussion post-match including from the manager himself who was critical of the decisions in the game but praising of his side.

With that said, football.london takes a look at the different incidents and gives its verdict on the incidents from the game. It seems that Arteta certainly had a point.

Sommer on Merino

In the first half, Arsenal midfielder Mikel Merino leapt to reach a cross from the left-hand side, meeting the ball but getting underneath it and seeing it rise over the bar. However, a split-second after Merino makes contact, goalkeeper Jan Sommer punches through, missing the ball and taking out Merino.

Arteta speaking after the game said: “But if that is a penalty then the one on Mikel Merino where he punches him in the head has to be a penalty, 1,000 per cent. These are the margins in this game and it’s very, very difficult to accept.”

FL review: Arteta references another decision afterwards that we will come on to next but while there are arguments to be made there, here, he is correct. Sommer is late, misses the ball and takes out Merino.

Any other late challenge, be it in the box or outside of it made by a player that takes out the player and misses the ball is a foul. There is a question mark over the lenience that goalkeepers are given and that applies here.

FL verdict: Incorrect decision, penalty for foul on Merino

Yann Sommer seen colliding with Mikel Merino of Arsenal vs Inter Milan(Image: BBC / Match of the Day)

Merino handball decision

Just as the first half was coming to a close, a ball is sent into the centre of the box to Mehdi Taremi who challenges Merino for the ball. It ricochets off his boot and up onto a raised arm of the Spaniard’s without the midfielder having a chance to react.

The arm is considered in a natural position despite being raised because of the manner of the challenge being attempted - look at the angle of Taremi’s arm for comparison in the below image. Yet the referee and VAR confirm the penalty.

FL review: Arteta believes that Arsenal were told that these incidents would not lead to a penalty: “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.”

It is well known that UEFA differ to the Premier League when it comes to the handball rule. It is far stricter and almost any touch of the arm appears to be punished.

While it has been recommended by many that this be adjusted, it appears that this is not the case. Based on the current rules, despite Arteta’s claims, it appears this was the right decision but certainly one that needs further evaluation in the future.

FL verdict: Correct decision (according to UEFA laws)

Mikel Merino penalised after hand ball call for Arsenal vs Inter Milan(Image: BBC / Match of the Day)

Arteta escapes red card

In a bizarre but for some inevitable moment, Arteta was shown a yellow card for touching the ball before it exited the field of play. The Arsenal manager has made a name for himself for failing to control his touchline behaviour and was caught breaking the rules yet again. As he thought the ball would leave the field he attempted to quickly restart play but ended up touching it before it actually left the pitch.

FL review: Like last season when Gabriel was not punished for a handball offence against Bayern Munich, it appears the referee has applied discretion – unlike against Aston Villa on Wednesday who were punished and Club Brugge awarded a spot kick for the exact same infraction.

However, the rules state that sending-off offences include but are not limited to entering the field of play to interfering with play, an opposing player or match official. It seems that Arteta has got rather lucky here and perhaps it was because it is not entirely clear whether the ball is out of play or not that the officials decided a caution was the better choice.

FL verdict: Arteta lucky not to be sent off. Incorrect decision, red card.

Mikel Arteta was booked for interfering with play as Arsenal faced Inter Milan(Image: TNT Sports)

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