Mikel Arteta expressed fierce disappointment after the referee’s decision to rescind a penalty awarded to Arsenal’s substitute Eberechi Eze during the Champions League semi‑final first leg against Atletico Madrid. The Gunners were forced to settle for a 1‑1 draw, a result that left Arteta fuming over what he called a "completely unacceptable" reversal. The incident unfolded in the 78th minute when Eze was brought down inside the box by Atletico defender David Hancko. The contact was clear, foot‑on‑foot, and the Arsenal side seemed poised to reclaim the lead through a spot‑kick.
However, VAR intervened, prompting referee Danny Makkelie to consult the video monitor. After reviewing several replays, Makkelie withdrew the penalty he had initially signalled, and the match concluded level, setting up a decisive second leg at the Emirates Stadium.
Speaking to TNT Sports immediately after the game, Arteta did not mince words. "When we got back to the dressing room and I watched the incident again, I felt extremely disappointed and annoyed.
It was a clear foul and the decision changed the course of the tie. I'm very, very upset," he said. He added, "The whole sequence shows obvious contact. You make a decision on the field; you cannot overturn it after watching it thirteen times.
It is completely unacceptable at this level. It was the wrong decision." Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice echoed his manager’s frustration, insisting that the penalty should have stood and suggesting that the crowd’s reaction may have influenced the referee’s change of mind.
"It was a clear penalty, and I don’t understand why it wasn’t given. I think the fans provoked the decision and changed the ref’s mind," Rice told reporters. He also noted that UEFA’s approach to VAR differs from the Premier League, where officials are required to be especially cautious because they are expected to intervene only in unequivocal situations.
UEFA later released a brief statement on its website, explaining the VAR decision by saying, "Atleti player, No 17, did not commit a foul on the opponent." The governing body declined to elaborate further when Sky Sports News requested additional clarification about the process that led to the penalty being overturned. UEFA reiterated its policy that VAR teams will review all match‑changing moments but will intervene only for clear and obvious errors. When asked whether Arsenal would lodge a formal protest with UEFA, Arteta deferred to the club’s hierarchy, replying, "I leave that to the club to decide what’s the best thing to do. Now they’re not giving us a penalty.
That’s it. It’s gone." The match itself was dominated by penalty drama.
Arsenal had taken the lead at halftime through a spot‑kick converted by Viktor Gyökeres after a foul on him by Hancko, who again found himself at the centre of controversy. Atletico equalised early in the second half when VAR identified a handball by Ben White following Marcos Llorente’s shot. Although the ball struck White’s knee before making contact with his hand, the referee awarded a penalty, which Julian Álvarez converted. Arteta acknowledged that the interpretation of handball in the Champions League differs from that in the Premier League.
"They have been consistent with that," he said. "If you are going to give a penalty for this kind of thing you have to accept it." The handball call against White came amid a broader debate over VAR consistency, especially after a similarly contentious decision in the other semi‑final, where Alphonso Davies was penalised during Paris Saint‑Germain’s win over Bayern Munich.
Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher took to social media to call on UEFA to clarify the handball rule, describing the current situation as a "stain on the competition." Despite the disappointment, Arteta praised his squad’s overall performance in Madrid. "I’m very proud of the boys," he said. "The way we handled the context for nine and a half months has been remarkable. I’ve seen some of the best teams in the world here fall apart and concede three or four goals, but we kept ourselves in the game." He admitted that the result was not what Arsenal had hoped for, but stressed that the team still had control of its destiny.
"We didn’t get the result we wanted, but the way we planned the game, we wanted to win it. At least it is in our hands, in front of our people.
We want to be in that final, and in a week’s time we will have the opportunity to do so," Arteta concluded. The controversy surrounding the penalty decisions has reignited calls for clearer VAR guidelines and a more transparent handball definition in European competition. As Arsenal prepares for the return leg at the Emirates, the focus will shift to how the team can capitalize on the momentum they built in Madrid, despite the setbacks caused by disputed officiating.
The outcome of the second leg will determine whether Arsenal can overcome the disappointment of the first match and secure a place in the Champions League final, a goal that remains within reach if they can translate their resilience and tactical discipline into a decisive victory on home soil.