Penalty drama reigns as Arsenal draw with Atletico Madrid

Atletico Madrid vs Arsenal. UEFA Champions League Semi-Final.

8:00pm, Wednesday 29th April 2026.

Wanda MetropolitanoAttendance: Attendance68,421.

Report as Arsenal draw 1-1 with Atletico Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final; Viktor Gyokeres and Julian Alvarez scored from the spot before referee Danny Makkelie overturned a late penalty for the Gunners following a VAR check

Football Features Writer @nicholaspwright

Wednesday 29 April 2026 23:45, UK

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Mikel Arteta was left fuming after Arsenal had a penalty controversially overturned following a VAR check in a pulsating 1-1 draw with Atletico Madrid in their Champions League semi-final first leg.

Referee Danny Makkelie pointed to the spot for the third time in the game when Eberechi Eze went down following a challenge by David Hancko in the 78th minute, but changed his decision after being sent to the monitor and deeming the contact insufficient.

Arteta described the decision as "completely unacceptable", adding: "After going back to the dressing room and watching the penalty incident, I'm extremely disappointed and annoyed. It was against the rules and changes the course of the tie. I'm very upset."

Atletico Madrid: Oblak (6), Llorente (6), Pubill (6), Hancko (5), Ruggeri (6), Simeone (6), Cardoso (6), Koke (7), Lookman (7), Griezmann (7), Alvarez (8).

Subs: Le Normand (6), Baena (6), Molina (n/a)

Arsenal: Raya (7), White (6), Saliba (7), Gabriel (7), Hincapie (7), Zubimendi (6), Rice (8), Odegaard (6), Martinelli (6), Madueke (7), Gyokeres (7)

Subs: Eze (7), Saka (6), Jesus (6), Trossard (6), Mosquera (n/a)

Player of the Match: Declan Rice

Viktor Gyokeres had earlier blasted Arsenal in front from the spot having been pushed over by the same Atletico player.

Atletico responded through Julian Alvarez's penalty after more controversy as Ben White was penalised for handball following another VAR check, with the defender's arm deemed to have been in an unnatural position when struck by Marcos Llorente's shot.

Arsenal, aiming to reach the Champions League final for only the second time in their history, controlled the first half but had to withstand an Atletico onslaught at the start of the second.

The excellent Alvarez sent a free-kick just wide, Antoine Griezmann hit the crossbar and Ademola Lookman shot straight at David Raya when he should have scored from the centre of the box.

Latest Arsenal news and reaction to Atletico game

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Atletico then had to withdraw the excellent Alvarez, helping Arsenal regain control of the game, and they appeared to have been handed the chance to go in front when Eze went to ground inside the box following foot-to-toot contact from Hancko.

The home fans roared their approval when the decision was overturned and Diego Simeone celebrated wildly but the Gunners continued to apply pressure as substitute Cristhian Mosquera stung the palms of Jan Oblak from the edge of the box.

The draw ensures a positive result for the Gunners to take back to London for next week's second leg as they vie to face Bayern Munich or Paris Saint-Germain in the final. But the controversial penalty call left Arteta and his players aggrieved not to win.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta in his press conference:

"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.

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"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.

"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.

"But when you have fought so hard for nine months to be in this position, that's another goal that changes the tie completely. And it can't happen. I'm sorry. We put so much on it. This cannot happen."

The decision to overturn Arsenal's penalty will dominate the fallout to this dramatic night at the Metropolitano Stadium. "This cannot happen," said an angry Arteta.

He felt his side had been denied what would have been a famous victory but the draw is a positive outcome nonetheless. He took encouragement from the manner in which they came through the barrage of Atletico Madrid pressure that followed half-time.

They rode their luck at times during that period. Griezmann was denied by the width of the crossbar. Lookman shot straight at Raya when it looked easier to score. But Arsenal also deserve credit for their resolve. "They are so competitive," said Diego Simeone.

"I'm very proud," added Arteta. "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, and 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."

Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone in his press conference:

"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."

Before next Tuesday's return leg at the Emirates, Arsenal turn their attentions to the Premier League title race with the visit of Fulham on Saturday; kick-off 5.30pm.

Atletico are also in LaLiga action, facing a trip to Valencia on Saturday afternoon.

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