Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta expressed his outrage on April 29, 2026, over a controversial VAR decision that overturned a penalty during their Champions League semi-final against Atlético Madrid. The match, held at the Wanda Metropolitano, ended in a 1-1 draw.
Viktor Gyokeres scored from the penalty spot for Arsenal, giving them an early lead. However, Julian Alvarez equalized for Atlético Madrid with another penalty shortly after.
Arteta voiced his frustrations about the VAR ruling. “After going back to the dressing room and watching the penalty incident, I’m extremely disappointed and annoyed. It was against the rules and changes the course of the tie. I’m very upset,” he stated. He added, “This cannot happen.”
Despite the setback, Declan Rice was named Player of the Match for Arsenal. He completed 83 passes—second-most by an English midfielder in a Champions League semi-final.
As of midday, Arsenal has now equaled their longest-ever unbeaten run in the Champions League with 13 consecutive games without defeat. This performance comes as they prepare to face Fulham in the Premier League on May 2, 2026.
Meanwhile, Atlético Madrid will play Valencia in LaLiga before the second leg against Arsenal. They have struggled recently, recording only two wins in their last nine matches and conceding 18 goals during that stretch.
Diego Simeone offered his perspective on the incident, stating, “In my humble opinion, the player feels contact on his back and he drops down.” He added that he is proud of his team’s resilience despite recent challenges.