Arsenal get immediate penalty verdict as Atletico incident ‘a stain on Champions League’

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Arsenal get immediate penalty verdict as Atletico incident 'a stain on Champions League'

Arsenal saw Ben White penalised for a handball against Atletico Madrid

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Shortly before the hour mark, Diego Simeone's side equalised after Julian Alvarez's emphatic spot-kick. However, the decision was contentious after Ben White was penalised after the ball struck his hand as he attempted to block Marcos Llorente's volley. The Gunners led through a first-half Viktor Gyokeres spot-kick after David Hancko was penalised for a barge on the Sweden international.

Arsenal were, largely, comfortable in the opening exchanges in the semi-final first-leg as the hosts moved to take a pragmatic approach to facing the Premier League leaders. However, the handball, awarded by Dutch referee Danny Makkelie, handed the Spanish side impetus and Alvarez's effort levelled proceedings.

Carragher, who was apart of CBS Sports' coverage, tweeted: "The champions league is the best football by a mile, but these penalty decisions for handball really are a stain on the competition. Last nights was worse but that should not be a penalty against White."

Meanwhile, Steven Gerrard and Ally McCoist agreed that Arsenal were unfortunate to have conceded a penalty against Atletico Madrid.

On TNT Sports' commentary, Gerrard said: "I think when your arm is away from your body, even if you don't mean it, at this level, in this competition, I think they're given. I don't think it's a penalty in the Premier League but there you go."

Co-commentator McCoist added: "Is there any contact off his left leg? I doubt it. I don't think it. I really don't like it. I'm not sure there's no contact off his leg, you know."

UEFA released an explanation regarding the decision to award the penalty, after the Dutch official went to the monitor to overturn his decision of no penalty. It was deemed that White touched the ball with his left arm, which was away from his body and making it bigger.

They said: "Decision overturned: penalty awarded. Penalty – handball offence.

"Arsenal player, No4 (Ben White), touched the ball with his left arm which was away from the body and making his body bigger."

Wednesday's first-leg was the final opportunity for Atletico Madrid to earn a win at home in the Champions League after a disappointing campaign in the league and cup.

The Spanish giants sit fourth in the league table and well out of the title race while they squandered an opportunity at silverware as they slumped to defeat against Real Sociedad in the Copa del Rey final.

The first leg, held at the Wanda Metropolitano, provided a chance to take an advantage over to North London ahead of the second-leg next week. But ahead of the encounter, Simeone said: "It's extraordinary that Atletico Madrid is in a Champions League semi-final again after nine years and after doing it for the fourth time in 14 years, if I'm not mistaken.

“That really is wonderful, it's incredible, incredible. And I think that faith, that excitement, that contagiousness that our people transmit to us will do us a lot of good.

“We are going to face a tough game with a very good opponent and with a set-piece strategy as you well said at the beginning that is very well worked and well, here we go with all the excitement.

“I always say that dreaming is good but reality is what happens on earth. And what happens on earth is what we do and what God wants. So that's how we behave.

"Honestly pressure no, there's no pressure. There's responsibility. There is the excitement of being close to a huge goal that the club has never achieved. And of course there is a special excitement.

“And we have to prepare well, we’re going to play the game we want to play, the game we imagine and as I always say, take the game where we want so we can hurt them. It will be a hard game but we believe we can stop them.

"They are a good team with good set-pieces. But I think football doesn't owe anyone anything.

“Things are deserved and achieved and for that you have to work and seek them and obviously that lady luck also has to be behind you.”

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