Arsenal lost 0-1 to Inter Milan in the Champions League, but performances from Gabriel Magalhaes, Jurrien Timber and Thomas Partey helped Arsenal’s defence perform impressively under pressure from the home team.

Arsenal endured a frustrating night at the San Siro as they failed to find the back of the net against a solid Inter Milan defence, falling to a narrow 1-0 defeat. Despite creating plenty of chances, Arsenal were unable to break down Inter’s well-organised defence under Simone Inzaghi. However, despite losing the game and dropping to 12th in the table, a number of Arsenal players made their mark with notable defensive performances. Here’s a look back at three names who stood out in the Gunners’ defence.

1. Gabriel Magalhaes – Defensive Leader

Facing striker Lautaro Martinez – Serie A’s top scorer last season – is no easy task for any centre-back, but Gabriel Magalhaes did his job well. With his reading of the game and his concentration, Gabriel kept Martinez’s influence to a minimum. The Argentine had just 24 touches and one shot in 62 minutes on the pitch, thanks in part to Gabriel’s constant marking.

Gabriel had an impressive game.

Gabriel also nearly opened the scoring for Arsenal with a close-range header from a corner just before half-time. Despite a shaky start to the game, Gabriel gradually regained his form and helped Arsenal’s defence to limit Inter’s attacks. He deserves less criticism for this defeat, especially when Arsenal only conceded a goal from a penalty.

2. Jurrien Timber – Control on the Right Wing

One of Inter Milan’s main threats came from Denzel Dumfries’ runs down the flanks. However, Jurrien Timber, who was tasked with marking Dumfries, did his job well.

Commendable performance by Timber.

Timber was resilient in his one-on-ones with Dumfries, allowing just three touches in the area and two inaccurate crosses. Timber’s quickness and concentration limited Inter’s ability to attack from the flanks, even when he was sometimes caught up with Mehdi Taremi.

In addition to his defensive duties, Timber also played his part in Arsenal’s play as he tried to get forward and help the attack. However, he was unable to make the decisive passes in this match, which Arsenal might have been hoping for to make a breakthrough. However, Timber’s performance was still commendable.

3. Thomas Partey – The Bright Spot In Midfield

Thomas Partey continued his impressive individual form despite Arsenal’s difficult period. The absence of Declan Rice and captain Martin Odegaard has increased the burden in midfield, but Partey showed composure and control. With a pass accuracy of 89% (56/63 successful passes), including 9 into the final area, Partey helped Arsenal maintain their attacking momentum throughout the 90 minutes.

Defensively, Partey was also solid, making six recoveries and four blocks, helping the visitors to limit Inter’s counter-attacks. Notably, he has had to change positions frequently this season, from central midfield to right-back, but has maintained a consistent form. Partey’s contract is about to expire, and given his recent contributions, Arteta will need to carefully consider the player’s future.