Mikel Arteta could barely contain his anger after a contentious penalty decision was reversed following a VAR review in a thrilling 1-1 stalemate against Atletico Madrid in the first leg of the Champions League semi‑final. The incident, which unfolded in the 78th minute, saw referee Danny Makkelie initially point to the spot after Eberechi Eze appeared to be brought down by David Hancko. However, after consulting the video assistant, Makkelie concluded that the contact was insufficient to merit a penalty and rescinded his original call. Arteta labelled the reversal "completely unacceptable" and explained his frustration in the post‑match press conference: "After returning to the dressing room and watching the penalty incident again, I am extremely disappointed and annoyed.
It was against the rules and changes the course of the tie. I'm very upset." His comments underscored how pivotal he believes the decision was in a match that could have swung in Arsenal's favour. The line‑ups for the evening featured a host of notable names. Atletico Madrid fielded Jan Oblak in goal, with a back line of Llorente, Pubill, Hancko, Ruggeri and Simeone, supported by midfielders Cardoso, Koke and look‑alikes Julian Alvarez and Antoine Griezmann.
Arsenal's starting XI included Aaron Ramsdale, Ben White, William Saliba, Gabriel, and a midfield anchored by Thomas Partey, while the attacking unit featured Martinelli, Gabriel Martinelli, and the newly signed Viktor Gyokeres. Declan Rice was later named Player of the Match for his composure in midfield.
The match opened with Arsenal asserting control in the first half, dictating possession and creating several clear chances. Their dominance, however, was tested when Atletico surged forward after the break.
The Spanish side earned a penalty when Gyokeres was fouled inside the box, converting it to take a 1-0 lead. The penalty itself was contentious, as Gyokeres had been pushed by the same Atletico defender who later sparked the Eze incident. Atletico's lead was short‑lived.
A second controversy erupted when Ben White was adjudged to have handled the ball after Marcos Llorente's shot struck his arm, which VAR deemed to be in an unnatural position. The referee awarded a penalty to the visitors, and Julian Alvarez calmly slotted the spot‑kick to level the scores at 1-1.
Both teams continued to press for a winner. Alvarez produced a superb free‑kick that narrowly missed the target, while Griezmann struck the crossbar with a powerful effort.
Arsenal's Ademola Lookman, who had found space in the centre of the box, inexplicably shot straight at goalkeeper David Raya, missing an obvious opportunity to put his side ahead. The atmosphere at the Metropolitano was electric, with Arsenal supporters reacting loudly when the Eze penalty was overturned. Atletico manager Diego Simeone celebrated the decision, while Arsenal's substitute Cristhian Mosquera later challenged Jan Oblak from the edge of the box, adding to the drama. Despite the disappointment over the reversed penalty, Arteta emphasized that the draw was still a positive result to take back to London for the second leg.
He warned that the decision could have a lasting impact on the tie, stating, "This changes the course of the game at this level. I'm sorry, but this cannot happen." He also praised his players for their resilience, noting that they withstood a sustained Atletico onslaught after the interval.
Simeone, in his own press conference, offered a measured response, saying, "I never give my opinion on my colleague's statement. In my humble opinion, the player feels contact on his back and he drops down.
In the Champions League semi‑finals, this cannot be a penalty, but the referee believed it was. The second one was not a penalty.
Sometimes the VAR plays in your favour and sometimes it doesn't." Looking ahead, Arsenal will shift focus to the Premier League title race with a crucial fixture against Fulham at the Emirates on Saturday, while Atletico Madrid returns to LaLiga action with a trip to Valencia. Both clubs will be eager to fine‑tune their squads ahead of the decisive second leg of the semi‑final, where a victory would secure a place in the Champions League final against either Bayern Munich or Paris Saint‑Germain. The controversy surrounding the penalty reversal will dominate discussions in the days to come, highlighting the ongoing debate about VAR's role in high‑stakes matches.
For Arsenal supporters, the night was a mixture of frustration and hope: frustration at a decision they felt robbed them of a winning goal, and hope that the team’s overall performance—especially the midfield dominance of Declan Rice and the attacking spark of Martinelli and Gyokeres—will carry them through to a final that could become only the second in the club's storied history.