Arsenal were denied victory in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final against Atletico Madrid as Julian Alvarez’s penalty earned the hosts a 1-1 draw in a match defined by a refereeing dispute.
The Gunners were rewarded with a first-half goal in the 44th minute when Viktor Gyokeres shot home from the penalty spot for David Hancko.
Atletico were the better side after the restart, although their equalizer came in controversial circumstances as Ben White was penalized for handball following a VAR review.
Referee Danny Makkelie pointed to the spot for the third time after Eberechi Eze had made another challenge on Hancko who was ill-advised. However, the Dutch official surprisingly overturned his decision after being called to the groundskeeper, leaving everything tense ahead of next Tuesday’s return game in North London.
Gyokeres gives Arsenal the lead in the first half
Atletico were the most intimidating side in the first half but did not put Arsenal under as much pressure as coach Diego Simeone might have hoped.
Alvarez forced a good save from David Raya after some excellent work on the edge of the box and then saw a header fly just over the crossbar.
However, Arsenal did an excellent job of containing their players amid a tense atmosphere at the Metropolitano.
And they were gifted the lead with a horrendous error of judgment from Hancko, which Gyokeres punished brutally with a powerful penalty on Jan Oblak.
Alvarez responds with a controversial penalty
Simeone took off his son Giuliano in the second half, replacing Robin Le Normand, and his men were very dangerous.
Alvarez curled a free-kick into the side netting and, after a foul-mouthed Ademola Lookman shot straight at Raya, Gabriel produced a fine block to keep out Antoine Griezmann’s follow-up.
But parity returned after Makkiele was sent to the keeper for a handball incident that he did not see, with Atletico’s players calling for a handball after Marcos Llorente’s volley hit the back right.
Makkiele pointed to the spot after watching replays that showed the ball coming out of White’s hand with his leg, and Alvarez shot past Raya, who had been standing in the middle of his goal.
Arsenal denied VAR surprise
Griezmann then hit the crossbar with a superbly improved effort and saw his follow-up volley deflected wide, before Raya headed home a corner from Alvarez who looked to be diving under the crossbar.
Lookman squandered a good chance by firing straight at Raya with a goal at his mercy and, after Alvarez left the field with an apparent injury, it looked like it was going to be a miserable night for Atletico following another mistake by Hancko.
Makkiele gave away another penalty when Hancko was tackled by Eze, who went down after his foot was stepped on.
Replays showed little contact, but it was a big surprise when Makkiele was again told to go to the screen and changed his decision on the field.
Atletico were unable to capitalize on that release and Oblak had to push away Cristhian Mosquera’s effort, but the Rojiblancos can be content with their place in the competition as they head to the Emirates Stadium.
