'Ruining our game' - 5 pundits give verdict on 'ridiculous' Inter Milan penalty v Arsenal as Gunners lose

Arsenal conceded their second penalty of their Champions League campaign during the first half of their clash with Inter Milan at the San Siro on Wednesday night.

From a free-kick, Piotr Zielinski flicked the ball off Mikel Merino's arm, with the referee pointing straight to the spot despite the players being in close proximity. VAR checked the decision for a potential offside and stuck with the on-field call, with Hakan Calhanoglu then converting from the spot to give the hosts the lead. That proved to be the difference in the contest and left Arsenal with seven points from their first four Champions League games. The Gunners have four games remaining to seal a place in the knockout stages of the competition. The top eight of the league phase go straight to the last 16 while teams placed 9th to 24th will enter play-offs for the other eight spots in the round of 16.

Former Arsenal and West Ham United defender Matt Upson branded the decision as ridiculous. He said on BBC Radio 5 Live: "I can't get my head around how this is a penalty. Mikel Merino's hand is in a perfectly natural position. The ball is skimmed off the foot of Mehdi Taremi, who is two yards away. In the Premier League it doesn't get given as a penalty. It is ridiculous."

Another ex-Gunners man in Paul Merson felt the decision was harsh as he said on Sky Sports: "I don't know where Merino could put his hands there! It is a bit harsh. He's a yard away from it."

Discussing the incident on commentary for TNT Sports, former Scotland international Ally McCoist argued a rule change is necessary as the decision would not have been given in the Premier League due to the proximity between the players. He said: "Did it hit his hand? Absolutely - but he doesn't know anything about it. It is ridiculous you can't have different rules in the same sport. It is extremely harsh. The law has to change and the word deliberate has to come back into it. That is not deliberate."

Speaking at half time on TNT Sports, ex-Arsenal defender Martin Keown added: "It is extremely frustrating. Is the arm in an unnatural position? It certainly isn't. I don't know who determines that but the referee has given it and VAR is never going to intervene. It is ruining our game, to be honest. Arsenal really hard done by there."

Former Manchester United and Leeds United man Rio Ferdinand also offered his view, stating: "It is unfortunate that the rules are different in different competitions. That is the confusing thing for fans and players. Arsenal started the game slowly and eventually grew into the game."