Arsenal were held to a 1-1 draw by Atletico Madrid in the Champions League semi-final first leg, but the result was overshadowed by controversy.
Both goals came from penalties, yet the biggest talking point was the one that wasn’t given.
Atletico’s spot-kick was already viewed as harsh after the ball deflected off Ben White’s knee onto his hand.
However, the decision to overturn Arsenal’s penalty for a foul on Eberechi Eze left players, fans and pundits stunned.
Ian Wright was among those who could not believe what he saw.
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Ian Wright reacts to Eberechi Eze’s penalty incident during Atletico Madrid vs Arsenal
This was a moment that could have completely changed the tie in favour of Arsenal.
The game was finely balanced in the second half when Eze burst into the box and got to the ball ahead of David Hancko.
The Atletico defender clearly stepped on his foot, and the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot immediately.
At that point, it looked like Arsenal had a huge opportunity to take control of the Champions League tie with what would likely have been the winning goal.
But then VAR intervened, and everything changed.
The referee was sent to the monitor, and after watching multiple replays, he overturned his original decision.
That call raised serious questions, especially given there was obvious contact and the on-field decision had already been made.
There was also a sense that the pressure from Diego Simeone and the home crowd may have influenced the outcome.
Arsenal legend Wright certainly felt something was not right, and he made his feelings clear instantly.
He posted about the referee on X, along with three angry emojis: “I knew he’d buckle! Home side gets that pen!”
You’re the referee: How many penalties actually should have been given during Atletico Madrid vs Arsenal?
Three appeals, two given, what was the right call? Tell us why in the comments.
Mikel Arteta blasts the referee’s decision after Arsenal’s draw vs Atletico Madrid
In the immediate aftermath, there was a lot of anger inside the Arsenal camp, but it was important to understand exactly why.
From the Gunners’ perspective, the referee had already seen the incident clearly and made his call. Overturning that after multiple replays only showed that it wasn’t a clear and obvious error, and VAR had no reason to intervene.
Mikel Arteta was as furious as Wright and did not hold back when asked about it after the final whistle.
He said, as per Sky Sports: “I’m very, very upset. The whole sequence. There is clear contact; you make the decision, you cannot overturn that decision when you have to look at it 13 times.
“It’s completely unacceptable at this level. It’s the wrong decision, and it changes the course of the tie. That cannot happen at this level.”
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