Mikel Arteta left the stadium seething after a contentious penalty decision was reversed following a VAR review in a thrilling 1-1 stalemate between Arsenal and Atletico Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League semi‑final. The match, played at the Metropolitano, saw the referee, Danny Makkelie, initially point to the spot for the third time in the encounter when Arsenal’s Eberechi Eze went down after a challenge from Atletico defender David Hancko in the 78th minute. However, after consulting the video assistant, Makkelie concluded that the contact was insufficient to merit a penalty and overturned the award, sparking outrage from the Gunners’ camp. Arteta described the reversal as "completely unacceptable" and explained his frustration after reviewing the incident in the dressing‑room: "I’m extremely disappointed and annoyed.
It was against the rules and changes the course of the tie. I’m very upset." The manager’s comments highlighted how pivotal he believed the penalty could have been in a match where both sides were vying for a decisive advantage. The line‑ups reflected the importance of the fixture.
Atletico Madrid fielded a strong XI featuring Jan Oblak in goal, with a back line of Llorente, Pubill, Hancko, Ruggeri and Simeone anchoring the defense. The midfield was marshalled by Cardoso and Koke, while the attack boasted the talents of Joao Felix, Antoine Griezmann, and Julian Alvarez, who would later become central to the drama. Arsenal’s starting eleven included Aaron Ramsdale between the posts, a defensive trio of William Saliba, Gabriel and Kieran Tierney, and a midfield core of Thomas Partey, Martin Ødegaard and the ever‑reliable Declan Rice, who was later named Player of the Match.
Up front, Gabriel Martinelli, Bukayo Saka and new signing Viktor Gyökeres provided the creative spark. The first half was largely dominated by Arsenal, who controlled possession and created several clear chances. Their disciplined pressing forced Atletico to sit deep, and the Gunners appeared to be on track for a clean sheet. However, the second half saw Atletico surge forward with renewed intensity.
Julian Alvarez, who had already been a constant threat, earned a free‑kick that narrowly missed the target, while Griezmann struck the cross‑bar, and Ademola Lookman’s effort was comfortably saved by Ramsdale, despite looking a straightforward finish from the edge of the box. The turning point arrived when Gyökeres converted a penalty for Atletico after being pushed over by the same defender, Hancko, earlier in the game. The decision was straightforward and left the home crowd in disbelief. In response, Arsenal earned a penalty of their own when Ben White was adjudged to have handled the ball after a VAR check.
The referee ruled that White's arm was in an unnatural position when Marcos Llorente’s shot struck it, and the spot was awarded. The subsequent spot‑kick was taken, but the Gunners failed to convert, leaving the score level at 1-1. After the Alvarez penalty, the Spanish side had to withdraw the Argentine forward due to injury, which gave Arsenal a brief respite and an opportunity to regain momentum.
Eze appeared to have earned a second penalty when he went down inside the box after foot‑to‑foot contact with Hancko. The stadium erupted in approval when the decision was overturned after a prolonged VAR review, a moment that left Diego Simeone celebrating passionately despite the controversy.
Substitutes also made an impact. Cristhian Mosquera, who came on for Arsenal, challenged Jan Oblak from the edge of the area, while Atletico’s bench provided fresh legs that kept the pressure on. The match ended in a draw, a result that Arsenal can take to the Emirates for the second leg, but the unresolved penalty issue left a sour taste for Arteta and his players.
In the post‑match press conference, Arteta reiterated his fury: "What I’m incredibly fuming about is how the hell the penalty on Eze gets overturned in the manner that it happened when there is no clear and obvious error. This changes the course of the game at this level.
I’m sorry, but this cannot happen." He went on to criticize the length of the VAR review, noting that the referee had to watch the incident multiple times, which he deemed "impossible" and unfair. Arteta defended the decision to award Ben White’s penalty, describing it as a clear handball, but lamented that the earlier overturning of Arsenal’s chance had altered the tie’s dynamics after nine months of hard work.
Diego Simeone, when asked about the incidents, offered a measured response: "I never give my opinion on my colleague’s statement. In terms of their first penalty, 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." His remarks underscored the fine margins that define elite competition. Looking ahead, Arsenal will shift focus to the Premier League, where they face Fulham at the Emirates on Saturday, before returning to the Champions League for the decisive second leg. The Gunners will aim to capitalize on the lessons learned from the dramatic first encounter, hoping to secure a win that could send them to the final for only the second time in club history.
Atletico, meanwhile, will prepare for their LaLiga clash against Valencia, while also plotting their strategy to overturn the aggregate score in Madrid. The controversy surrounding the overturned penalty will dominate discussions in the days to come, with many pundits questioning the consistency of VAR applications in high‑stakes matches.
For Arsenal supporters, the draw remains a positive result, but the feeling of a missed opportunity lingers. As Arteta concluded, "We didn’t get the result that we wanted, but the way we handled the context for nine‑and‑a‑half months is remarkable. We want to be in that final and in a week’s time we will have the opportunity to do so."