'It improved' - Arsenal icon questions delay in bringing on Nwaneri in loss to Inter Milan

Arsenal icon Martin Keown has questioned Mikel Arteta's decision in bringing on Ethan Nwaneri late on in the 1-0 loss to Inter Milan on Wednesday night at the San Siro.

Hakan Calhanoglu scored the only goal of the game from the penalty spot in the first half stoppage-time after Mikel Merino was adjudged to have committed a handball in the box.

Arsenal had had a penalty call waived earlier in the game when Inter Milan goalkeeper Yann Sommer had punched Merino on the head, but the contact wasn't deemed enough to have necessitated a penalty kick.

Eight minutes before stoppage time, Nwaneri came off the bench to replace Leandro Trossard to make his Champions League debut, and he registered a goal attempt.

Six minutes into the stoppage time, the 17-year-old accelerated beyond his marker and unleashed an effort towards goal, but his effort crossed over the crossbar.

Speaking after the game, Keown questioned Arteta's decision not to bring on the talented midfielder earlier in the game.

"I think it improved when Nwaneri came on,' Keown was quoted as saying by Metro.

"And I thought when you see the quality he brings he should've been on the pitch a bit sooner.'

His appearance in yesterday's fixture means he has now featured for Arsenal in three different competitions, the Premier League, Carabao Cup, and the Champions League, with the FA Cup now being the only competition he hasn't featured.

The loss piles more pressure on Mikel Arteta, with the Gunners losing back-to-back games, and are seven points adrift of Premier League table-toppers Liverpool and five points behind the Reds, who also lead the Champions League standings.

Abdulkareem Abdulhamid

Photo Credit: arsenal.com

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