Mikel Arteta was left visibly angry 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 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 appeared to be brought down by Atletico defender David Hancko in the 78th minute.
However, after consulting the video assistant, Makkelie concluded that the challenge did not merit a penalty and rescinded the award. Arteta condemned the reversal, calling it "completely unacceptable" and stating, "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." His frustration reflected the high stakes of a semi‑final where Arsenal are hoping to secure only their second ever Champions League final appearance.
The line‑ups for the match featured Atletico in a 4‑3‑3 formation with Jan Oblak in goal, a back line of Llorente, Pubill, Hancko, Ruggeri and Simeone, and an attacking trio of Cardoso, Koke, Lookman, Griezmann and Julian Alvarez. Arsenal lined up with Aaron Ramsdale (Raya) between the sticks, a back four of Ben White, William Saliba, Gabriel, and Kieran Tierney (Hincapie), a midfield anchored by Declan Rice, Martin Ødegaard and Gabriel Martinelli, and forwards Gabriel Jesus, Leandro Trossard, and Viktor Gyokeres. Declan Rice was later named Player of the Match for his dominant midfield display.
The first half was largely controlled by the Gunners, who created several chances but were unable to break the deadlock. Arsenal’s early dominance gave them confidence, but the second half saw Atletico unleash a wave of pressure. Julian Alvarez earned a penalty for Atletico after a separate VAR review on Ben White’s handball, a decision that sparked another round of controversy. White’s arm was judged to have been in an unnatural position when Marcos Llorente struck the ball, prompting the referee to award the spot‑kick, which Alvarez converted.
Atletico’s lead was short‑lived. The Gunners responded swiftly when Viktor Gyokeres stepped up and converted a penalty of his own, after being pushed in the box by the same Atletico defender who had been involved in the earlier incident with Eze. The match then became a tense see‑saw, with both sides missing golden opportunities. Alvarez’s free‑kick drifted just wide, Antoine Griezmann clanged the ball onto the crossbar, and Ademola Lookman, instead of finishing cleanly from the centre of the box, sent his shot straight at David Raya.
As the game progressed, the atmosphere at the Metropolitano grew increasingly charged. When Eze went down inside the penalty area following a foot‑to‑foot clash with Hancko, the stadium erupted in anticipation of a second Arsenal penalty. Yet once again, VAR intervened and the decision was overturned, prompting a jubilant celebration from Atletico’s coach Diego Simeone and a chorus of boos from the home supporters. The Gunners continued to press, and substitute Cristhian Mosquera even managed to brush the hand of Jan Oblak from the edge of the box, adding to the drama.
The final whistle confirmed a 1-1 draw, a result that gives Arsenal a solid platform to return to the Emirates for the second leg. While the outcome is positive, the contentious penalty reversal has left Arteta and his squad feeling aggrieved. In his 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 lengthy VAR review process, noting that the referee had to watch the incident multiple times, which he felt was unreasonable. Arteta also defended the decision to award Ben White’s penalty, describing it as a clear handball, but argued that overturning Arsenal’s earlier penalty was unjust and altered the trajectory of the tie after nine months of hard work. "We fought so hard for nine months to be in this position, and that goal changes the tie completely.
It cannot happen," he said, emphasizing the emotional toll the decision had taken on his players. Diego Simeone, when asked about the incidents, offered a measured response.
He declined to comment directly on Arteta’s remarks but expressed his own view on the first penalty, suggesting the player felt contact on his back and fell, and that the referee’s decision was within the rules. Regarding the second penalty, Simeone noted that VAR can work both ways, sometimes favoring one side and sometimes the other.
Looking ahead, Arsenal will shift focus to their Premier League campaign, where they host Fulham on Saturday at 5.30 pm, before preparing for the decisive second leg at the Emirates. The Gunners know that a win in London would put them in a commanding position to face either Bayern Munich or Paris Saint‑Germain in the final. Meanwhile, Atletico will return to LaLiga action with a trip to Valencia on Saturday.
The controversy surrounding the overturned penalty will dominate discussions in the days to come, but both managers have stressed the importance of moving forward. Arteta praised his squad’s resilience, saying, "I’m very proud of the boys. The way we handled the context for nine‑and‑a‑half months is remarkable.
I’ve seen some of the best teams in the world fall apart, and we stayed competitive.” He added that despite not getting the result they wanted, the team’s performance gave them belief heading into the return fixture. In summary, the first leg of the Champions League semi‑final delivered high drama, a disputed VAR decision, and a balanced scoreline that leaves the tie finely poised. Arsenal’s quest for a historic final continues, with the second leg offering a fresh opportunity to settle the score and possibly secure a place in the competition’s ultimate showdown.