Arsenal, Atletico settle for 1-1 draw in Champions League semifinal first leg

Premier League side Arsenal and Atletico Madrid settled for a 1-1 draw in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League semifinal clash at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano in Spain on Wednesday.

Arsenal struck first just before the half-time whistle courtesy of Viktor Gyokeres’ penalty to give the Gunners the advantage heading into the half-time break. The striker won the spotkick after he was brought down inside the 18-yard box.

Eleven minutes into the second half, Atletico Madrid were awarded their own penalty after Marcos Llorente’s volley struck Ben White’s hand. Julian Alvarez calmly slotted home the ball to equalise for the host.

Ademola Lookman came closer to giving Atletico Madrid the lead later in the second half but his effort from close range was comfortably saved by goalkeeper David Raya.

The Gunners thought they had secured a second penalty kick in the 81st minute after Eberechi Eze went down in the box after an apparent contact by David Hancko.

However, the centre referee Danny Desmond Makkelie overturned his initial decision to award the penalty after checking the pitch side VAR monitor.

At full time, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was left unimpressed by the penalty decision, stating “I’m extremely disappointed and annoyed because the penalty incident was against the rules and I don’t understand it because it changes the course of the tie.”

He added, “I am very upset. You cannot overlook a decision at this level when you have to look thirteen times. It’s completely unacceptable.”

“I didn’t see their penalty, so it’s difficult to say, but that’s football. I don’t know why they turned [the Eze penalty] down, it looks like there was contact, but it’s their decision,” Gyokeres said regarding the penalty.

Meanwhile, Antoine Griezmann, who was named the man of the match, said “My big dream is to reach the final. I have prepared a lot for this match and the second leg. I had three chances, but couldn’t find the net. I’m sure I will in the second leg. We should take the positives from today.”