Every word Mikel Arteta said on Inter penalty, Mikel Merino sub and Kai Havertz Arsenal injury

What are your thoughts on another defeat?

The worst thing of the night for sure is the result because the dominance, the attitude and the performance we showed against one of the best teams in Europe in this stadium I haven’t seen it in all the games that I watched. The reality though is the result and we had many situations in front of goal that we could have resolved better enough to score at least two goals.

Extremely frustrated as well because there are then two decisions that marked the course of the game.

What did you make of the Merino handball decision?

I don’t understand. There is no danger at all. You cannot react because the ball is very close. 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%. These are the margins in this game and it’s very difficult to accept.

Are you more concerned that you’re not finishing your chances or that you’re not creating enough?

The concern is the result and that in both boxes we didn’t do what we have to do. And then we didn’t someone else didn’t. For sure this is the way I want to see my team. All the big games we have played in Europe this is by far the best one that we played in the last few years.

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How frustrating when such penalty decisions go against you and how painful is that?

There is nothing unfortunately that we can do and we are not going to be able to change it. So unfortunately we have to accept it and move on.

Does the handball rule need to be changed?

We were told a the start of the season that wasn’t a penalty. That was clear. Today it was a different story.

How’s Havertz?

Kai he has a big cut. He had to come off because he needed some stitches. Hopefully he will be OK for the weekend.

Was Merino taken off because of the punch?

Yes.

Is he concussed?

No he was not concussed. Yesterday and today he was already not feeling great and when I looked at that I decided to take him off because I need him 100%.

What did the ref say to you when he spoke to you?

It’s a private, interesting conversation.

How hard will it be to pick the players up for Chelsea?

No. If we play the way we played we have a good chance to win against Chelsea. I told them I’m proud of them. I haven’t seen them play in Europe in the manner they have today. And we are very disappointed because we didn’t get what we wanted out of the game that’s for sure.