Mikel Arteta was left 'incredibly fuming' after a controversial VAR decision denied Arsenal a penalty in their Champions League semi-final first leg against Atletico Madrid at the Emirates Stadium. The Gunners boss saw his side held to a 1-1 draw, but the major talking point came in the second half when referee Slavko Vincic initially pointed to the spot for a foul on Bukayo Saka by Atletico defender Mario Hermoso.
VAR Overturns Penalty Decision
Vincic awarded the penalty after Saka went down under Hermoso's challenge, but following a lengthy VAR review, the referee overturned his decision, ruling that contact was minimal and outside the box. Replays showed slight contact on Saka's ankle, but VAR official Pol van Boekel deemed it insufficient for a spot-kick. The decision infuriated Arteta, who argued that the contact was clear and that VAR had misinterpreted the incident.
Speaking after the match, Arteta did not hide his frustration. 'I am incredibly fuming. It is a clear penalty. The referee gave it, and then VAR intervened for a reason that I cannot understand. We have seen these given many times. It is a massive decision in a semi-final,' he said.
Impact on the Match
The draw leaves the tie finely balanced ahead of the second leg in Madrid. Arsenal had taken the lead through Gabriel Jesus in the first half, but Atletico equalized early in the second half through Antoine Griezmann. The Gunners pushed for a winner but were unable to break down a resilient Atletico defense. Arteta's frustration was compounded by the fact that his team had several other penalty appeals waved away.
- Arsenal had 65% possession but only managed three shots on target.
- Atletico's defensive organization limited Arsenal's clear-cut chances.
- The second leg at the Wanda Metropolitano promises to be a tense affair.
Arteta also criticized the consistency of VAR decisions across competitions. 'We need clarity. Every week there is a different interpretation. It is not good for the game. The players deserve consistency, and tonight we did not get it,' he added.
Reactions from Atletico Camp
Atletico manager Diego Simeone defended the VAR decision, stating that the contact was minimal and that the referee made the correct call after review. 'It was not a penalty. The referee saw it clearly on the monitor. We respect the decision,' Simeone said.
The draw means Arsenal must score or keep a clean sheet in the second leg to advance to the final. Arteta will be hoping his side can overcome the disappointment and focus on the task ahead. 'We have to move on. We have a big game in Madrid, and we will be ready,' he concluded.
