Arteta: Overturned Arsenal Penalty Alters Semi-Final Dynamics

Mikel Arteta has claimed that the decision to revoke a penalty initially awarded to Arsenal "changes the course of the tie" against Atletico Madrid. The Gunners drew 1-1 in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final at the Metropolitano, with Viktor Gyokeres and Julian Alvarez converting penalties for their respective teams.

Gyokeres netted his 19th goal of the season for Arsenal, placing him behind only Erling Haaland (35) and Igor Thiago (24) as the highest-scoring Premier League players across all competitions in 2025-26. Arsenal also matched their longest unbeaten run in the European Cup/Champions League, extending their streak to 13 games without defeat—a feat previously achieved between March 2005 and April 2006.

However, Arsenal have managed just two wins in their last eight matches (D2 L4), and this was only the fifth time this season they failed to secure a victory after scoring first (scored first 41 times – W36 D4 L1). The Gunners believed they had a chance to take a lead back to the Emirates Stadium when Eberechi Eze was fouled by David Hancko late in the game, but the referee reversed the penalty decision following a VAR review.

Arteta expressed frustration with the overturned call, suggesting it could significantly impact the tie's outcome. Speaking to TNT Sports, he said, "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. 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."

When asked if the referee was influenced by Atletico Madrid's coaching staff, Arteta responded, "That’s a question for him. It’s the wrong decision, and it changes the course of the tie."

Atletico's penalty was awarded after Ben White was judged to have handled the ball, despite an initial deflection off his knee. Arteta did not contest the decision, acknowledging its consistency with recent rulings, including a similar call in Paris Saint-Germain's victory over Bayern Munich. "It is a rule, and they have been quite consistent with that," he said. "I have nothing to say on that. The one I have to say [something about] is the penalty [call against Eze]."