Brian's Empire KE
Arsenal must avenge 'disgraceful' VAR decision and knock out Atletico Madrid to make history
Arsenal can feel hurt by the refereeing calls in their draw with Atletico Madrid but have the chance to make history
View ImageThe Riyadh Air Metropolitano, which I couldn’t help but continue to call The Wanda, has this giant flag outside the ground, just above where the tunnel into the stadium which takes the team coaches into the bowels of the ground. Giant red and white stripes with the Atleti crest waving proudly alongside the stadium.
Yet, it is only red flags which continue to rise from the officiating in UEFA competitions. While Arteta was magnanimous about Ben White’s handling of the ball, which in the Premier League is rarely given, he could not have been more scathing about the video assistant referee’s recommendation to overturn what looked like a clear foul on Eberechi Eze in the box.
FOLLOW OUR ARSENAL FB PAGE! Latest Gunners news, analysis and much more via our dedicated Facebook page
“What I'm incredibly fuming with is how the hell the penalty on Ebs gets overturned in the manner that it happened when there is no clear and obvious error,” Arteta said. “And this changes the course of the game. And at this level, I'm sorry, but this cannot happen.”
Is it soft? Yes. Is the contact minimal? Yes.
But if we’re being consistent in Europe with the handball rule, then the minimal contact which earned Arsenal a penalty in Leverkusen earlier this year, then not only is it a penalty, but how a referee can be recommended to overturn a decision he’s made on the field to give it is absolutely ridiculous.
I say the contact is ‘soft’, but with Eze running at speed, getting the touch before David Hancko gets to the ball, and then the defender’s foot coming down on the attacking midfielder’s – the momentum sends him down. It looks so obvious that the referee’s immediate reaction was indeed to award it.
It is a, and I hold nothing back on this having slept on it, a disgraceful decision. And, frankly, anyone who thinks otherwise, I cannot comprehend how the alternative thought process can materialise.
It is a shame that the game is overshadowed by this because it was an excellent fixture. After the nine-goal fireworks in Paris, all the narrative being peddled was that these two sides would bore us to death with tactical, defensively-focused football.
There was no doubt better defensive might on display, Gabriel Magalhaes’ last-ditch block being a great example of that, but it was ultimately a game of two halves of attacking desire. Each team came to win this game, Arsenal did not get the result they would have been happiest with, even though they will perhaps have taken the scoreline if offered to them before the game.
It means that it creates a scenario, with away goals no longer a thing, that turns this two-legged semi-final into a single-match decider in Arsenal’s backyard. The Gunners will be and should be confident of reaching their first UEFA Champions League final since 2006.
On the performances, Viktor Gyokeres immediately stands out. It would be fair to say that I have been critical of the striker’s performances this season, but I think this was his best, at least it was in the first half.
He was winning duels, he was holding the ball up, he was beating his man with the power and pace that just have not been present enough in his game this season. Then he wins a penalty, which is a foul he gets by cleverly putting himself between the defender and the ball, before smashing home the ball from the spot – like anyone would have any doubts about that…
Arsenal faded in the second half, Simeone summed the game up really well in his post-match interviews.
"I can't remember many times that we've had an atmosphere like we had here at the start of this game," Simeone said. " In the first half, they were better, but there weren't many shots on goal. In the second half, we adjusted.
“[Arsenal] looked a bit tired from so many games, so much responsibility. They're top of the Premier League, they need to win the Champions League, all of that.
"We couldn't get the goal that would give us an advantage, and we have an extraordinary challenge ahead of us in London."
The adjustment of taking off Guiliano Simeone and moving Marcus Llorente further up the pitch was the key one. It pinned back Piero Hincapie, and it wasn’t until Arteta made the triple change in the second half that the Gunners wrestled back control of the ball and reclaimed their threat.
But in that time Atleti had both won their penalty, scored it and had two huge chances, one blocked by Gabriel and the other hitting the crossbar. Arsenal were tested, but ended the game ruing what could have been.
Thankfully, in a week’s time, they can take all that frustration of unfinished business out on the same team that cried, whinged and moaned at every single call. Step up, take this Atleti side to the cleaners and earn your place in a historic final, putting yourself on the verge of becoming immortal as players in this Arsenal shirt.
Tom Canton
Tom Canton joined football.london as the Arsenal Fan Brand Writer and Presenter before becoming a permanent Arsenal Reporter in 2025. Tom produces plenty of analytical content in addition to breaking stories and is a regular attendee at matches and press conferences. Can also be found on YouTube @TheGoonerTalkTV
ENJOYED THIS STORY?Choose Football London as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.
Support Everyday Chronicle
Global reporting requires independent voices. If you value our coverage, please consider a small contribution to help us grow.
Click the button below to make a secure donation
Discover more from Everyday Chronicle
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Have any thoughts?
Share your reaction or leave a quick response — we’d love to hear what you think!
-
0
-
0
-
0
-
0
-
0
-
0
