Manager Mikel Arteta said the decision to cancel a penalty awarded to Eberechi Eze was “completely unacceptable” after Arsenal were held to a 1-1 draw in the Champions League semi-final first leg with Atletico Madrid.
Substitute Eze grounded into the box in the 78th minute following a challenge from David Hanko. There was foot-to-foot contact and it looked like the Gunners had a chance to regain the lead. However, VAR intervened and advised referee Danny McCarey to go in front of the monitor.
After watching multiple replays, McCarey decided to rule out the penalty he awarded and the match ended in a tie ahead of the second leg at Emirates Stadium on Tuesday.
David Hanko challenges Eberechi Eze – but initial penalty call is overturned
Arteta spoke to TNT Sports immediately after the game and gave a harsh assessment of the decision.
“I went back to the changing room and talked to the players and watched what happened with the penalty and it was very disappointing and upsetting because it was against the rules and changed the course of the draw,” he said. “I’m very, very upset.
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The Athletic’s David Ornstein was baffled as to why Arsenal’s controversial second penalty was overturned by VAR
“The whole sequence. There was clear contact. You make the decision, but when you have to go over it 13 times, you can’t reverse that decision. It’s completely unacceptable at this level.”
“That’s the wrong decision.”
Asked in his post-match press conference if Arsenal would appeal to UEFA over the decision, Arteta said: “I leave it to the club to decide what is the best course of action. They are not going to give us a penalty now. That’s it. That’s gone.”
This match was defined by three penalties.
Arsenal took the lead on half-time with a spot-kick won by Victor Gökeres, with Hanko involved again and slotting the ball past the striker from behind to score.
Atletico Madrid’s Hanko fouls Arsenal’s Victor Goqueres
However, Atlético were in good form and VAR spotted Ben White’s handball from Marcos Llorente’s shot, sending referee McCarey to the monitor and leveling the score after Julian Alvarez’s breakthrough. A penalty was awarded even though the ball hit White’s knee and was deflected off his hand.
Regarding this decision, Arteta admitted that the interpretation of handball in the Champions League is different from that in the Premier League.
Arsenal’s Ben White awarded a penalty for this handball – results of VAR check
“They’ve been consistent at it,” he said. “If you’re going to give us a penalty for something like this, we have to accept that.”
The handball decision against White followed an even more controversial decision to punish Alphonso Davies in the other semi-final, which Paris Saint-Germain won against Bayern Munich.
Writing on X, Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher said UEFA needs to work on its definition of handball in the Champions League.
“The Champions League is by far the best football, but these penalty decisions for handball are a real stain on the game. Last night was worse, but it shouldn’t have been a penalty against White,” he said.
Arteta ‘proud’ of Arsenal: ‘It’s in our hands’
Reflecting on the team’s overall performance in Madrid, Arteta said: “I’m very proud. I said to the players that the way we have handled this situation for nine and a half months is just amazing.”
“I’ve seen some of the best teams in the world collapse here, conceding three goals, conceding four goals, so I give them real credit.
“We didn’t get the result we wanted and we wanted to win the game we planned. At least it was in our hands and in front of our people.
“We want to get to the final and we’ll get that chance in a week’s time.”
