Mikel Arteta believes Arsenal should have secured a win in their Champions League semifinal firstleg clash against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday night.
Both team settled for a 1-1 draw but Arsenal believe they should have been awarded a penalty when Eberechi Eze went down inside the box after David Hancko’s challenge.
Replays showed Eze getting a toe on the ball before Hancko could get there, who appeared to catch the Arsenal star late, sending him to ground.
Referee Danny Makkelie immediately pointed to the spot, with Mikel Arteta’s side being given a huge chance to go 2-1 up.
However, Makkelie was then instructed to review the decision at the VAR monitor. He eventually overturn the penalty decision, leaving Arsenal’s players in disbelief.
Referee Danny Makkelie checks the VAR screen before overturning a penalty to Arsenal. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
This proved a hugely controversial call, and Gunners boss Arteta was unable to hide his fury in his post-match interview.
Asked about the penalty, he told TNT Sports: “The decision getting overturned, extremely disappointed.
“It was against the rules, I don’t understand it and it changes the course of the tie.
“Very, very upset… it’s clear contact, you cannot overturn the decision when you need to look at the incident 13 times. It’s unacceptable.”
Pressed on whether the referee was influenced by the crowd, Arteta replied: “I don’t know, that’s a question for him.
“But it was the wrong decision and has changed the course of the tie.”
Arsenal’s disallowed penalty wasn’t the only refereeing decision that left Arteta fuming at full-time.
Viktor Gyokeres gave Arsenal the lead from the spot in the first half before Atletico were awarded a penalty of their own in the second half.
However, the decision to award the spot-kick proved controversial, with the ball striking Ben White’s trailing arm after he rushed to the edge of the penalty area to close down Marcos Llorente’s volley.
Ben White is adjudged to have handled the ball after a shot from Marcos Llorente of Atletico de Madrid (not pictured). (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
While this was initially missed by the referee, a VAR check ensued, with Makkelie ultimately awarding Atletico a penalty.
Arteta appeared less than impressed with the call, commenting after the match: “It’s the rule they’ve brought in, I have nothing to say about that… but the one that was overturned has to be a penalty.
“That cannot happen at this level.”
