Mikel Arteta said he was “incredibly fuming” about the controversial decision to overturn an Arsenal penalty during his side’s 1-1 draw at Atlético Madrid.

Arsenal were awarded a second-half spot kick in the Champions League semi-final after Eberechi Eze had been challenged by Atlético defender David Hancko.

But referee Danny Makkelie, who was berated by Atlético manager Diego Simeone and the home fans for his initial decision, chose to reverse it after reviewing the pitch-side monitor. Replays showed that Hancko made no contact with the ball.

“I am incredibly fuming with how the hell the penalty on Ebs [Eze] gets overturned in the manner that it happened, when there is no clear and obvious error,” said Arteta. “This changes the course of the game. At this level, I am sorry but this cannot happen. It is impossible. We are all fuming about it. It is a clear and very obvious penalty. That’s it.

“When you have fought so hard for nine months to be in this position… I mean, that’s another goal that completely changes the course of the tie. It cannot happen. I’m sorry. We put so much on it. So, so, so much on it. This cannot happen.

“It was against the rules and I don’t understand it. [We are] very upset. There is clear contact. He makes the decision and you can’t overturn it when you have to watch it 13 times. It’s completely unacceptable at this level.”

Declan Rice said the home crowd swayed the decision of the referee during the pitch-side review.

“Uefa is totally different [to the Premier League],” Rice told Stan Sport. “In both boxes you have to be so careful, because they give absolutely everything.

“The second one [the challenge on Eze], it’s a clear penalty. I don’t know how that’s not been given. I think the fans provoked the decision, changed the ref’s mind. But, look, it doesn’t matter. We move on to next week and we want to beat them at home.”

The tensions continued after full-time as Simeone clashed with Ben White, the Atlético coach seemingly upset that the Arsenal defender had walked over the home club’s badge.

The scoreline was 1-1 when Hancko made the challenge on Eze, after both teams had already struck from the penalty spot. Viktor Gyokeres gave Arsenal the lead after he was brought down in the box, before Julián Alvarez equalised after White was penalised for a handball in the second half.

Arteta said the handball against White would not have been given as a penalty in the Premier League but accepted that the rules in European competition are different.

The draw leaves the tie in the balance before next week’s second leg. Arsenal were the dominant side for much of the game, especially in the first half, and will be confident of reaching a first Champions League final since 2006.

“I really value what we have done because I’ve seen some of the best teams in the world come here and fall apart, and concede three and four,” said Arteta.

The three penalty decisions analysed

Penalty one: Gyokeres scores
What happened: Julián Alvarez gave the ball away with a poor header in midfield and Arsenal pounced. Martin Odegaard and Martin Zubimendi moved the ball forward at pace before the latter found Viktor Gyokeres, The Swede was cute in his movement, pausing for a split second. That meant David Hancko, the Atletico defender, clumsily ran into his back. Gyokeres went down and referee Danny Makkelie awarded the spot kick. Gyokeres fired home, with his shot going between Jan Oblak’s arms

Was it the right decision? Definitely. This was the simplest of the three calls on the night

Penalty two: Alvarez scores
What happened: Atletico played a corner to the edge of the area where Marcos Llorente met it on the volley. Llorente actually mishit his volley and the ball was heading wide of goal, but it flicked off Ben White’s shin and then hit his hand, which was away from his body as he lifted his leg to try to block the shot. Atletico appealed instantly, and after reviewing the decision on the monitor Makkelie awarded the penalty

Handball against Ben White and Atletico Madrid have a penalty! 😮

What do you make of that decision?

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— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 29, 2026

Was it the right decision? As it happened in the Champions League, yes. Uefa has been consistent in declaring that a handball such as this – no matter how unintentional – is a penalty, and we saw that when Alphonso Davies was punished for Bayern Munich against Paris St-Germain on Tuesday. The rules are different in the Premier League, however, with a higher bar. In England, this would not have been awarded as a penalty.

Penalty Three: Decision overturned 
What happened: Bukayo Saka plays a pass into Eberechi Eze inside the Atletico box. The Arsenal man gets there a split second before Hancko, who makes contact with his foot. Makkelie awards a penalty, but is encouraged to review his decision by VAR. After a lengthy delay in which Makkelie watches 13 replays – all to the background of intense noise and pressure from the Atletico crowd and coach Diego Simeone – he overturns the decision

Was it the right decision: No, certainly not according to Mikel Arteta, Arsenal’s players and most pundits. Hancko clearly made contact with Eze and although soft it did not appear a clear and obvious error. Ian Wright posted on X that he “knew the referee would buckle”.

Arsenal curse VAR as chance to take control of tie is erased

This is one where Arsenal will feel they were penalised. Yes, they leave the first leg of this Champions League semi-final as favourites to go through.

But how they will believe the odds should be stacked far more heavily in their favour with a win.

It was a game of three penalties. The first, scored by Viktor Gyokeres after the Arsenal striker was himself fouled, was straightforward enough. The second, a handball by Arsenal defender Ben White, was awarded by Dutch referee Danny Makkelie after he was sent to the pitch-side monitor. Julian Alvarez scored to make it 1-1. The third, awarded by Makkelie for a foul by David Hancko on Eberechi Eze, was then overturned after another VAR intervention.

Arsenal will justifiably feel both penalties that were awarded to them should have stood and the one that should have been refused – but was not – was given to Atlético. It certainly would not have been awarded in the Premier League but, absurdly, the interpretation of handball appears different in this competition. Go figure that. So much for consistency.

It could be argued the penalty Arsenal were denied was more clear cut than the one they were given. And, so, they had one taken away and, after a draw, this tie is frustratingly in the balance.

It means Arsenal leave Spain with a sense of grievance and a strengthened belief that they will reach their first Champions League final in 20 years with next Tuesday’s second leg at the Emirates to come.

It will be intense. Diego Simeone alone will make sure of that. We talk so much about Mikel Arteta’s antics on the touchline but he is an inert pussycat compared to Simeone.

The Atlético coach celebrated appearing to force Makkelie to overturn what looked like a clear foul on substitute Eze – for what would have been Arsenal’s second and probably match-winning penalty – by running on the pitch and slapping defender Hancko hard on the back. Hancko had also given away the first penalty.

There had been expectations of a storm. It did not come from the skies – the weather warning passed – while Arteta and his team quelled what they faced on terra firma despite a tempestuous second-half spell.

Their driving force was Declan Rice who dominated from a deeper role and drove Arsenal in a way that again thrust him into the debate about who is Europe’s best midfielder. Surely this is the most effective use of him for club and country? At the base of the midfield.

In that position Rice can sniff out danger and formed a strong triangle with centre-halves William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhães and how that was needed with Atlético emerging as if scalded – we can be sure Simeone tore into them at half-time – to score and create a series of chances that could have turned this tie even further.

So let us analyse each of those penalties. The first half was a textbook European away performance from Arsenal. Quell the crowd. Check. Gradually take control. Check. Subdue the opposition. Check. Score just before half-time. Check.

It was a beautifully dramatic occasion, typical of what was at stake, with the atmosphere building wonderfully and some quixotic behaviour including toilet rolls being thrown from the stands and Arsenal complaining pre-match about the length of the grass claiming it was higher than the Uefa 30mm limit. It was measured with Uefa declaring it was just 26mm. Fine margins and all that.

Arteta could not have scripted it better but it was Atlético’s own fault as they gave the ball away and Martín Zubimendi guided it through to Viktor Gyokeres who was clumsily bundled over by Hancko.

Simeone protested. Of course he did. He angrily wagged his finger and claimed Gyokeres had done that forward’s thing where they stop and invite the contact. Simeone accused him of diving. But so what? Hancko certainly caught Gyokeres and he drove home the spot-kick.

All well and good and gone to plan. But a storm did come and Atlético were far better after the break. Julian Alvarez whipped a free-kick into the side-netting, David Raya beat out Ademola Lookman’s shot and Antoine Griezmann’s follow-up was deflected over.

Then another penalty. Except Makkelie did not see it and was only alerted after the Atlético players went crazy and he was called over to the pitch-side monitor by the VAR. So what happened? Marcos Llorente shot was blocked by White. The ball struck the defender’s hand but only after it deflected up off his shin. A bit like the one given against Bayern Munich’s Alphonso Davies in that 5-4 epic the previous night in the other semi-final against Paris St-Germain.

It would not be awarded in England and although rules can be applied differently they surely should not be for something as fundamental as handball?

Handball against Ben White and Atletico Madrid have a penalty! 😮

What do you make of that decision?

Watch live on TNT Sports and HBO Max pic.twitter.com/S6H13YrKnl

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 29, 2026

Inevitably Alvarez scored from the spot. Inevitably because he was Atlético’s most dangerous player and inevitably because we know that the Argentine – who scored his 10th Champions League goal of the campaign – is coveted by Arsenal.

Arsenal needed to hold firm. The momentum had emphatically shifted and Griezmann, in what was his last Champions League game in this stadium, went close with his rising shot rebounding back off the crossbar and Raya doing well to again deny Lookman.

Then came the third penalty incident. And the biggest, most contentious incident on the evening and one which – Arsenal will hope – fades away from controversy after next week’s game.

The ball was played into the Atlético area and Eze was too quick for Hancko who – undeniably – caught him on the foot. Another penalty was given. Atlético once more were furious, with Simeone drawing a monitor in the air and claiming Eze had exaggerated the contact. Eventually Makkelie again went over to the side of the pitch, watching the replay multiple times before overturning his decision.

Simeone applauded and Atlético celebrated. It was a big moment for them. Arsenal will desperately hope it is not a big one in the outcome of this tie.

“It’s great to have the chance to challenge in London,” a smiling Simeone said. But that challenge should be even greater.