Martin Odegaard implores Arsenal to enjoy season climax
Martin Odegaard implores Arsenal to enjoy season climax
Arsenal Football Newsletter
Arsenal Football Newsletter
Mikel Arteta says it will be a club decision if Arsenal lodge a complaint over Eberechi Eze's overturned penalty against Atletico Madrid.
In a controversial Champions League semi-final first leg in Spain, the Gunners were awarded a second spot-kick 10 minutes from time when David Hancko was judged by referee Danny Makkelie to have tripped Eze.
VAR intervened, suggesting an error had been made, which prompted a pitchside review and the decision to be overturned.
The UEFA match blog explained: "Decision overturned: no penalty. Penalty cancelled - no foul. Atleti player, No17 (Hancko), did not commit a foul on the opponent."
MADRID, SPAIN - APRIL 29: Referee Danny Makkelie checks the VAR screen before overturning a penalty to Arsenal for a foul by David Hancko of Atletico de Madrid (not pictured) on Eberechi Eze of Arsenal (not pictured) during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Semi Final First Leg match between Atletico de Madrid and Arsenal FC at Metropolitano Stadium on April 29, 2026 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
Referee Danny Makkelie overturned a late penalty to Arsenal
Arteta was "fuming" after the game, describing the decision to overturn as "completely unacceptable."
He told reporters: "When you have fought so hard for nine months to be in this position, that's another goal that changed completely because of the tie and it cannot happen. I'm sorry. We put so much on it. So, so, so much on it. This cannot happen."
Asked if Arsenal would look to speak to UEFA over the decision, Arteta said: "I don't know. I'll leave that to the club to decide what's the best thing to do.
"Now they're not going to give us the penalty. That's gone and that's it. Let's talk about football."
He added: "We can only recover - sleep and eat - and give the boys a lot of love. What we have been through is incredible. The energy to win the Premier League and Champions League, there's nothing like it."
Arsenal will welcome Atletico to the Emirates Stadium for next week’s Champions League semi-final second leg.