Arsenal have been denied a first-leg win over Atletico Madrid of their Champions League semi-final as a Julian Alvarez penalty earned a 1-1 draw for the hosts in a recreation outlined by refereeing controversy.
The Gunners have been rewarded for a composed first-half show within the forty fourth minute when Viktor Gyokeres fired house from the spot after being bundled over by David Hancko.
Atletico have been a lot the higher aspect after the restart, although their equaliser got here in contentious circumstances as Ben White was penalised for handball following a VAR overview.
Referee Danny Makkelie pointed to the spot for a 3rd time after Eberechi Eze went over below one other ill-advised Hancko problem. Nevertheless, the Dutch official surprisingly overturned his determination after being referred to as to the pitchside monitor, leaving issues all sq. forward of subsequent Tuesday’s return leg in North London.
Gyokeres provides Arsenal first-half lead
Atletico have been the extra threatening aspect within the opening phases however didn’t put Arsenal below as a lot strain as coach Diego Simeone may need hoped.
Alvarez pressured a tremendous save from David Raya after glorious work on the sting of the field after which noticed a header fly narrowly over the crossbar.
Nevertheless, Arsenal largely did a superb job of containing their hosts amid a raucous ambiance on the Metropolitano.
They usually have been gifted the lead by a dreadful error of judgement from Hancko, which Gyokeres ruthlessly punished with a penalty that had an excessive amount of energy for Jan Oblak.
Alvarez solutions with controversial penalty
Simeone took off his son Giuliano for the second half, bringing on Robin Le Normand, and his aspect have been significantly extra harmful.
Alvarez whipped a free-kick into the side-netting and, after the profligate Ademola Lookman had shot straight at Raya, Gabriel produced a superb block to maintain out Antoine Griezmann’s follow-up.
However parity restored after Makkiele was despatched to the monitor to test on a handball incident he didn’t see, Atletico’s gamers having vociferously appealed for handball after Marcos Llorente’s volley struck the right-back.
Makkiele pointed to the spot after replays that confirmed the ball flick up onto White’s hand by way of his leg, and Alvarez smashed past Raya, who had stayed rooted in the course of his purpose.
Arsenal denied in VAR shock
Griezmann then struck the crossbar with a splendidly improvised effort after which noticed his subsequent volley deflected large, earlier than Raya tipped over an Alvarez nook that dipping below the body of the purpose.
Lookman wasted a wonderful alternative by once more taking pictures straight at Raya with the purpose at his mercy and, after Alvarez left the sphere with an obvious harm, it seemed to be a painful evening for Atletico following one other Hancko error.
Makkiele awarded one other penalty when Hancko was crushed to the ball by Eze, who went down after seemingly having his foot stepped on.
Replays confirmed minimal contact, but it surely was a big shock when Makkiele was once more instructed to go to the display and once more modified his on-field determination.
Atletico weren’t capable of benefit from that reprieve and Oblak was required to repel a Cristhian Mosquera effort, however the Rojiblancos will possible be happy with their place within the tie as they head to Emirates Stadium.
