Mikel Arteta believes the decision to overturn a penalty awarded in Arsenal's favour "changes the course of the tie" with Atletico Madrid.

The Gunners drew 1-1 in their Champions League semi-final first leg at the Metropolitano, with Viktor Gyokeres and Julian Alvarez scoring from the penalty spot for their respective sides.

Gyokeres scored his 19th goal of the season for Arsenal; only Erling Haaland (35) and Igor Thiago (24) have netted more for a Premier League club across all competitions in 2025-26.

Arsenal equalled their longest ever unbeaten run in the European Cup/Champions League, going 13 consecutive games without defeat for the second time – previously between March 2005 and April 2006 (13).

However, Arsenal have only won two of their last eight matches across all competitions (D2 L4), while this was just the fifth time they failed to go on and win after opening the scoring in a match this season (scored first 41 times – W36 D4 L1).

The Gunners thought they had the chance to head back to the Emirates Stadium with an advantage when Eberechi Eze was fouled by David Hancko in the box late on, but the referee overturned his decision to award a penalty after a VAR review.

The decision did not go down well with Arteta, who feels it could have big implications on the outcome of the tie.

Arteta told TNT Sports: "Speaking to the boys and understanding the penalty incident for the second goal getting overturned, it was against the rules, and I don't understand it.

"[I'm] very upset. There is clear contact; he makes the decision, and you can't overturn it when you have to watch it 13 times.

"I don't know [if the referee was influenced by Atleti coaches]. That's a question for him. It's the wrong decision, and it changes the course of the tie."

Atleti's spot-kick was given after Ben White was penalised for handball, despite an initial ricochet off his knee.

Arteta did not dispute the decision, with a similar call given against Alphonso Davies in Paris Saint-Germain's win over Bayern Munich on Tuesday.

"It is a rule, and they have been quite consistent with that," added Arteta.

"I have nothing to say on that. The one I have to say [something about] is the penalty [call against Eze]."