Arsenal Penalty Overturn Could Alter Champions League Semi-Final, Arteta Claims

Mikel Arteta argued that a late VAR decision against Arsenal in the Champions League semi-final first leg with Atletico Madrid had a major impact on the tie, after a 1-1 draw left the contest finely balanced heading back to the Emirates Stadium.

The turning point came in the closing minutes at the Metropolitano, when Eberechi Eze went down under a challenge from David Hancko inside the penalty area and the referee initially pointed to the spot, before overturning the call following a lengthy video review that left Arsenal frustrated.

Arteta told TNT Sports: "Speaking to the boys and understanding the penalty incident for the second goal getting overturned, it was against the rules, and I don't understand it." The head coach felt the review process lasted too long and believed the on-field decision should have stood.

The Arsenal manager expanded on that view, saying: "[I'm] very upset. There is clear contact; he makes the decision, and you can't overturn it when you have to watch it 13 times. I don't know [if the referee was influenced by Atleti coaches]. That's a question for him. It's the wrong decision, and it changes the course of the tie."

Earlier in the match, both sides had already scored from the spot, with Viktor Gyokeres converting for Arsenal and Julian Alvarez replying for Atletico Madrid, leaving the semi-final level after the first leg and maintaining hope for both clubs ahead of the return fixture in London.

Atletico Madrid's penalty was awarded when Ben White was judged to have handled the ball, even though contact came after a deflection from White's knee, and Arteta accepted that call, noting a similar handball decision given against Alphonso Davies during Paris Saint-Germain's win over Bayern Munich on Tuesday.

Arteta said the handball law had been applied in the same way across recent games and did not challenge that consistency, explaining: "It is a rule, and they have been quite consistent with that, added Arteta. I have nothing to say on that. The one I have to say [something about] is the penalty [call against Eze]."

Gyokeres' successful spot-kick took the forward to 19 goals for Arsenal this season in all competitions, a total bettered in 2025-26 for Premier League clubs only by Erling Haaland, who had scored 35, and Igor Thiago, who had registered 24 across all tournaments.

Despite the frustration with the late decision, Arsenal extended a strong European sequence by matching the club's longest unbeaten run in the European Cup or Champions League, going 13 games without defeat, a feat previously achieved between March 2005 and April 2006.

That continental form contrasted with Arsenal's broader recent results, as the draw against Atletico Madrid meant Arsenal had won only two of the last eight matches in all competitions, with two draws and four defeats during that spell, underlining a dip after a strong earlier phase of the campaign.

The match also continued a usual pattern for Arsenal in 2025-26, as Arsenal had taken the lead for the 41st time across all competitions, and this was only the fifth occasion that Arsenal did not go on to win, having previously recorded 36 victories, four draws and just one defeat after scoring first.

With the score level, away goals no longer part of UEFA competitions, and Arsenal returning to the Emirates Stadium after a disputed late incident in Madrid, the second leg now stood as a straight shootout, with Arteta's side carrying both confidence from their unbeaten European run and frustration at the penalty controversy.