Mikel Arteta left the stadium visibly angry after a contentious penalty decision was reversed following a VAR review in the thrilling 1-1 stalemate between Arsenal and Atletico Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League semi‑final. The match, which unfolded at the Metropolitano Stadium, saw both sides create chances, but the pivotal moments revolved around two penalty appeals that sparked heated debate.
In the 78th minute, referee Danny Makkelie initially pointed to the spot after Eberechi Eze appeared to be brought down by Atletico defender David Hancko. The whistle blew, the crowd expected a spot‑kick, and Arsenal’s bench began to celebrate. However, after a brief consultation with the video assistant referee, Makkelie reversed his decision, judging the contact to be insufficient for a penalty.
Arteta later described the reversal as "completely unacceptable," adding that the decision altered the trajectory of the tie and left him "extremely disappointed and annoyed." Atletico Madrid’s line‑up featured a blend of seasoned internationals and emerging talents: Jan Oblak in goal, with a back line of Llorente, Pubill, Hancko, Ruggeri and Simeone anchoring the defence. The midfield was marshalled by Cardoso and Koke, while the attacking trio of Lookman, Griezmann and Julian Alvarez provided the creative spark. Arsenal, on the other hand, fielded a solid eleven with Aaron Ramsdale between the sticks, a back four of White, Saliba, Gabriel and Hincapie, and a midfield anchored by Declan Rice and Martin Ødegaard. The forward line included Gabriel Martinelli, Noni Madueke, and Viktor Gyokeres, with several impactful substitutes such as Saka and Trossard coming off the bench.
Gyokeres had earlier given Arsenal the lead from the penalty spot after being pushed over by the same Atletico player involved in the later controversy. His conversion seemed to set the tone, but the lead was short‑lived. Atletico responded swiftly when Julian Alvarez was awarded a penalty after Ben White was judged to have handled the ball.
VAR intervened once more, confirming that White’s arm was in an unnatural position when Marcos Llorente’s shot struck him, resulting in a spot‑kick that Alvarez calmly slotted to level the score. The first half was largely controlled by Arsenal, who dictated possession and created several half‑chances. However, the second half saw Atletico unleash a wave of pressure, testing Arsenal’s defensive resilience. Alvarez’s free‑kick drifted just wide of the post, while Griezmann’s powerful strike rattled the crossbar.
Lookman, who had been a constant threat, inexplicably shot straight at Jan Oblak when a clear opportunity from the centre of the box presented itself. The match’s drama intensified when Atletico had to withdraw the injured Alvarez, giving Arsenal a brief respite to regain composure.
Arsenal appeared poised to take the lead again when Eze went to ground inside the box after a foot‑to‑toe clash with Hancko. The home supporters erupted in approval when the referee’s decision was overturned, and Diego Simeone celebrated the reprieve with characteristic fervour. Yet Arsenal’s momentum was stifled when substitute Cristhian Mosquera brushed the palms of Oblak from the edge of the box, a moment that underscored the fine margins at play. The 1-1 result leaves Arsenal with a favourable platform heading back to London for the second leg.
A draw means they retain the advantage of an away goal, and the tie remains finely balanced as they aim to join Bayern Munich or Paris Saint‑Germain in the final. Nevertheless, the disputed penalty decision has left Arteta and his squad feeling short‑changed. In his post‑match press conference, Arteta vented his frustration: "What I'm incredibly fuming with is how the hell the penalty on Ebs 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 explain the VAR process, noting the referee had to review the incident multiple times, which he felt was excessive and unfair: "There's a very clear explanation: the decision, and then what happens for a period of time when the referee has to watch it 13 times. I think it's impossible and we are all fuming about it." Arteta also defended the decision to award Ben White’s penalty, describing it as a clear handball: "We need to apply the rules. They applied the rules on Ben's penalty.
That is difficult to accept but it is a penalty with a handball, and what they said at the beginning of the season. Yes, it's a clear and very obvious penalty." He concluded with a note of optimism, praising his players’ resilience after nine months of hard work: "I'm very proud. I said that to the boys, the way we handled the context for nine‑and‑a‑half months is remarkable. I really value what they've done because I've seen some of the best teams in the world here fall apart and concede three and four.
We didn't get the result that 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 are going to have the opportunity to do so." Diego Simeone, Atletico’s manager, offered a measured response, refusing to comment directly on Arteta’s remarks but expressing his own view on the incidents: "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, hosting Fulham on Saturday at 5.30pm, before preparing for the decisive second leg at the Emirates. Atletico, meanwhile, will return to LaLiga action with an away fixture against Valencia later in the week.
The controversy surrounding the overturned penalty will dominate discussions in the coming days, highlighting the ongoing debate about VAR’s role in modern football. Both managers have pledged to move forward, but the lingering sense of injustice may fuel Arsenal’s determination to secure a decisive result in the return fixture, while Atletico will aim to capitalize on the momentum they have built in this tightly contested semi‑final.