Arsenal vs Atlético Madrid summary: score, stats, highlights | Champions League semi-final online

Check out the full match report of Arsenal vs Atlético Madrid.

Gunners' glee

(From left to right) Arsenal's Noni Madueke, head coach Mikel Arteta, Declan Rice and Eberechi Eze celebrate after the final whistle.

Can Arsenal avoid repeat of Euro heartache?

Arsenal are now just one game away from their first European title - but do not have a good record in continental trophy deciders.

So far, the North Londoners have been to eight UEFA finals, and lost six of them.

My colleague Andy Hall looks back over Arsenal's history of heartbreak in Europe.

Atleti anguish

Led by head coach Diego Simeone, Atlético Madrid's squad applauds the away fans after losing at the Emirates.

Declan in dreamland

Saka may have been Arsenal's match winner, but our friends at SofaScore have picked Declan Rice as their ‘player of the match’:

Champions League

When is the 2025/26 Champions League final? Date and where will it be played?

Here, courtesy of my colleague Calum Roche, is the lowdown on the 67,000-capacity Puskás Arena. This will be the first time that the Champions League final has been held at the Budapest stadium.

Superlative Saka

Per Opta, Saka's tie-winning strike was his 14th goal involvement in 14 Champions League appearances at the Emirates.

"Really proud"

Atleti captain Koke has just spoken to Spanish TV.

“Really hurt, really upset, but really proud,” he says.

Will Arsenal face holders or former Spurs favorite?

A reminder that this season's Champions League final is on May 30, with Budapest's Puskás Arena the setting.

Arsenal have snapped up the first ticket to the Hungarian capital; tomorrow, we'll find out whether the Gunners are to be joined by the holders, PSG, or Harry Kane's Bayern Munich.

We have our first finalist

That semifinal really was as tight as they come. In the end, it's Arsenal who edge it, thanks to Bukayo Saka's first-half goal tonight. Oh, he's so, so important for the Gunners.

Twenty years on from their only previous appearance in the final, Arsenal are back in the Champions League title game.

We've had weeks of ‘bottle’ talk, but Mikel Arteta's men are very much in the hunt for a league-and-European Cup double.

Peeep peeep peeeep! Arsenal have won 1-0 at the Emirates, and are in the Champions League final!

Final minute of the five. Can Atleti put together one last attack?

As things stand, it doesn't look like it. Arsenal are being, er, ‘streetwise’, I think they call it. There's a lot of time-wasting over on the right-hand touchline, leading tempers to flare on the Atleti bench.

Koke is booked for complaining, and at least one Arsenal player has been cautioned for their efforts to run down the clock.

On the touchline, Arteta has been booked. I didn't actually see exactly why. But if I were a betting man, my money would be on time-wasting.

Atleti pump it forward. Can Los Colchoneros snatch something here?

No. No, they cannot. On the right, Nahuel can't bring the long pass properly under control, and succeeds only in giving away a goal-kick.

There are huge cheers from the Arsenal faithful; they can practically reach out and touch the final at this point.

At the other end, Martinelli touches it inside to Odegaard, before scampering into the Atleti box in search of the Norwegian's return ball. Odegaard can't find him.

There will be five minutes of time added on.

Baena shoots from 30 yards out. It flies comfortably high.

There are loud cheers of alacrity and relief from the Arsenal fans.

Two minutes of the regulation 90 remain.

Arsenal are on the very cusp of reaching the second Champions League final in their history.

Oh, my, Atleti create a fine chance for Sorloth to level. He absolutely muffs it.

Standing in yards of space to shoot, the Norwegian receives the ball on the penalty spot. It should surely be 1-1... but Sorloth completely misses his kick! And Arsenal clear.

That may be a very, very costly piece of not-very-sharp shooting from Sorloth.

Now we have a shot of an Arsenal fan holding his hands in prayer.

The Gunners win another corner, which Rice takes. He thumps his ball over the back post, where Gabriel has made his run... but the Brazilian can't get a good enough header on it.

It is quite tense right now. We've just seen a shot of a fan, in the away end I think it was, literally crying with nerves.

Gyökeres reacts after missing a chance for Arsenal.

Trossard is replaced, with Gabriel Martinelli on for Arsenal.

Pubill fouls Gyökeres, and is booked for the offense.

Odegaard then delivers a dead ball into the Atleti area, but Gabriel's header is well over.

Atlético push Arsenal back for a couple of minutes, with Marcos Llorente at the heart of it.

First, Llorente scampers to the right-hand byline and clips a cross into the middle, but nobody in dark blue can get no the end of it.

A moment later, Atleti work it back to the right to Llorente, who is calling for it in space to shoot. When he receives it, Llorente does indeed pull the trigger - but he's going to have to do more than that to beat Raya. His low strike is right at the Arsenal keeper.

On the right flank, Trossard does very well to beat Baena to the ball, before turning and setting off towards the Atleti area.

Trossard looks up and tries to fizz it into the middle, but his cross is blocked.

Gabriel is down and in some discomfort after colliding with his own keeper as he jumped for a high ball.

He's soon up, though, and one assumes is fine to carry on.

At the other end, Gyökeres positively barrels his way into space to shoot from the edge of the box.

Dark-blue shirts bounce off the Swede, before he has a ping from 20 yards out. It's not a good ping, however. It's sliced high, wide and devilishly handsome.

Now Atlético win a corner. Is this their chance to snatch that leveller?

Nope. Arsenal clear with ease.

Fifteen minutes left at the Emirates.

Lewis-Skelly comes off, with Zubimendi on in his stead.

Gabriel (left) prevents Giuliano (right) from scoring the equalizer, after the Atleti forward had rounded Arsenal keeper Raya (center).

Arsenal win a corner. Rice delivers. Sorloth clears.

Zubimendi is about to come on for the home team.

Oh, there's an inviting opening for White. He picks up a loose ball out from the back from Atleti, and does not need told twice to have a dig from range.

Have a dig he does... but it's a bit of trundler, to be honest. It dribbles wide of Oblak's left-hand post.

Midway point of the second half. Arsenal are returning to the Champions League final as things stand, but it remains poised on a knife edge.

Here comes Baena, who replaces Griezmann.

Atleti actually make a double change, as Álvarez is also off. He looked like he was struggling. Thiago Almada is on for his fellow Argentine.

Arsenal are so, so close to a second. Released into crossing space on the left, Trossard delivers an inch-perfect pass across the top of the box, to meet Gyökeres' run forward.

Gyökeres tries to simply redirect the bouncing ball's momentum in the direction of Oblak's left-hand top corner - but fires just off target! Lovely attacking play by the hosts.

From the left, Griezmann whips a dead ball into the Arsenal area. It's delivered with plenty of zip and fizz, but Arsenal clear with relative ease.

A minute later, an Atleti cross comes in from the right... but it's far too close to Raya, He grabs hold, to huge cheers from the home crowd.

Atlético come at Arsenal, but when Llorente loses it on the right-hand corner of the box, the Gunners can clear.

Los Rojiblancos are preparing another change, with Álex Baena waiting to come on.

Right away, Odegaard winds up a shot from the edge of the area.

It's hit with plenty of force, but it flies too high.

Triple changes for both teams.

For Atlético, Nahuel, Cardoso and Sorloth are on for Giuliano, Le Normand and Lookman.

For Arsenal, Saka, Eze and Calafiori are replaced by Madueke, Odegaard and Hincapié.

Having survived that counter-attack, Atleti come forward and work it to Griezmann on the edge of the box.

Griezmann's effort is parried, before Pubill is penalized as he tries to pounce on the loose ball.

Hmmm. There's a VAR check, for a possible penalty for Atleti, for a Calafiori foul on Griezmann. But no spot-kick is given, as Pubill is deemed to have committed a prior foul on Gabriel.

Back come Atleti - but in the blink of an eye, they've lost the ball and Rice is surging forward for Arsenal.

Ruggeri tries to play it forward to Griezmann, but Los Rojiblancos lose it. Rice gathers the ball and charges forward, to the edge of the Atleti box. Having got that far, he plays it right to Gyökeres, who's in space to shoot.

Gyökeres pulls the trigger, but his strike is blocked!

Oh, wow. Somehow, Giuliano doesn't score the equalizer.

When a long ball is knocked forward, Saliba's backwards defensive header is, frankly, rubbish. He succeeds only in playing Giuliano in.

Giualiano rounds Raya - but with the goal wide open, Gabriel races back and does juuuust enough to prevent the Atleti forward from shooting into the empty net.

There's a brief VAR check for a foul by Gabriel, but that check is quickly complete. A huge letoff for Arsenal.

Said free-kick is played short, before Arsenal work it right to White.

White plops a ball into the middle, with plenty of red and white shirts waiting, but nobody can connect. Gabriel slumps to the turf under Le Normand's challenge, sparking timid calls for a penalty. Daniel Siebert says no, nein and non.

It's mainly been Atlético ball in the opening moments of the second half - but the visitors lose it now, allowing Rice to lead an Arsenal counter.

Rice feeds it forward to Trossard, who is tugged down by Llorente. Free-kick to the hosts.

Right away, Marc Pubill skips forward and drifts a cross into the Arsenal box, towards the far post.

Lookman and Griezmann are both waiting for it at the back stick, but get in each other's way. Arsenal clear.

Peeep! Herr Siebert blows his whistle.

Players back out!

The two teams have now emerged from the Emirates Stadium tunnel, and we're moments away from the second half.

While we're talking about Nayim-from-the-halfway-line, I thoroughly recommend you check out this comedy recreation of the Spaniard's goal.

Champions League

A stunning 40-yard goal that broke Arsenal’s hearts in 1995 - The story behind Real Zaragoza’s last minute shot

Also on the subject of Arsenal history: Andy Hall remembers that Nayim goal for Real Zaragoza, in the very final moments of the 1995 Cup Winners' Cup final.

Champions League

What became of Highbury, Arsenal’s legendary stadium where Thierry Henry made history?

Some half-time reading for you: my colleagues Marina García Esteban and Calum Roche take a trip down memory lane to remember Highbury, Arsenal's legendary former home.

Arsenal edge ahead

Bukayo Saka scores for Arsenal on the stroke of half time, after Jan Oblak had parried Leandro Trossard's shot.

Saka a semi specialist

That Saka goal, by the way, was his second for Arsenal in a Champions League semifinal.

Last season, he netted the Gunners' only strike in a 3-1 aggregate defeat to Paris Saint-Germain.

As our friends at SofaScore point out, Saka has accounted for exactly half of Arsenal's goals in the Champions Leagues semis.

Peeep peep peeeeep! That's the half in North London, where Arsenal have edged ahead.

As things stand, the Gunners area heading back to the Champions League final, 20 years after their first and only appearance in the showpiece. But there's a lorra lorra football still to be played tonight.

We'll have a minute of time added on at the Emirates.

Arsenal's Myles Lewis-Skelly reacts after the Gunners miss a chance.

That's bright play by White and Eze, who exchange passes before the former releases the latter into the Atleti box.

Ruggeri is alert to the danger, though, and gets a boot in before Eze can advance into the area.

Arsenal are definitely having the better of it right now, albeit they're not creating anything massively clear-cut.

When Atleti momentarily win it back, Lookman plays a loose pass - and the Gunners have it again, Gyökeres charging at a back-pedalling Atleti defense.

He runs into a three-man search-and-destroy unit, however: Griezmann, Giuliano and Pubill combine to muscle the Swede off it, and the chance is lost. Goal-kick to Atleti.

Again Arsenal work it nicely to Rice, who's loitering with malicious intent just outside the Atlético box.

It's perfectly set up for one of Rice's trademark efforts from 20 to 25 yards out... but he doesn't connect properly. His shot is scuffed into a crowd of players, and is cleared.

Arsenal want a penalty when Trossard tumbles in the box. Nothing doing. I only saw one replay of it, but it didn't look like much to me.

A moment later, the Gunners work it to Rice, who's in shooting space at the top of the box. Rice gets a decent amount of welly behind it - but the ball takes a deflection, before bouncing wide.

At one end, Atleti's defense looks alive to clear an Arsenal ball into the area.

At the other, Griezmann almost gets Álvarez in for Atleti, but Gabriel snuffs out the danger.

Now Atlético do do something with it. It's excellent, enterprising play by Llorente, who barrels his way into the Arsenal box from the right wing.

Cutting back onto his left, Llorente finds himself in a very dangerous shooting position - but can't test Raya. His strike is blocked.

Back come Atlético, keeping the ball inside the Arsenal half for a good couple of minutes.

They do naff-all with it, mind.

That's fine play by Lewis-Skelly.

Arsenal win another corner, which doesn't immediately come to anything. No matter: the Gunners work it back to Lewis-Skelly on the left, where he rolls Álvarez far too comfortably. 

Scampering into the box, towards Oblak's right-hand post, Lewis-Skelly zips a low ball across the six-yard box... but nobody is there to get a touch!

Having snuffed out that Atleti attack rather too easily, Arsenal then give it back rather too easily.

On the right wing, Gyökeres tries to drive towards the byline, presumably with the intention of cutting the ball back into the danger area.

Before he can execute his cunning plan, however, Gyókeres runs straight into Saka. Atleti win it back and clear.

It's tit-for-tat attacking play right now.

Atlético come forward, working it left to Lookman. He slips it inside to Álvarez... who makes a complete mess of his return pass. He plays an inch-perfect ball right to the feet of Saliba.

That's much better from Saka, who absolutely pings in a low ball from the right wing, arrowing his pass right to the penalty spot.

Men in red and white are waiting, but they can't do anything with it. Arsenal then recycle it back out to Lewis-Skelly, who lays it off for Gabriel to shoot from range. Shoot he does, but his strike skids past Oblak's left-hand post.

Arsenal win a corner on the left. They're quite good at corners, I've heard.

And Atleti are, indeed, bamboozled by a sneaky routine that sees Saka peel away to the back post, in veritable hectares of space.

Unfortunately for Saka, he tries to volley the ball in the direction of Oblak's goal - and rather fluffs it. It bounces harmlessly wide.

Here, courtesy of my colleague Sergio Picos, is the spectacular reception given to the teams as they made their way onto the Emirates field before kickoff.

In the first five minutes or so, it was largely Arsenal ball. Since then, Atlético have looked dangerous.

It really is anyone's tie right now. 

Griezmann looks in the mood tonight. He's flitting about just in front of the Arsenal defense, knitting things together nicely.

First, he drops to collect a pass on the left, before curling a cross into the box. It comes to nought - but a moment later, Álvarez slips the Frenchman into space on the right of the penalty area, allowing him to fizz a dangerous low ball into the six-yard box.

That he does - but Giuliano can't quite snaffle up the ball to turn it towards Raya's goal! Bright attacking play by Atleti, that.

Calafiori tries to beat Oblak from a long way out. He does not. The ball flies high; if not into row Z, then certainly somewhere halfway up the alphabet. 

Well, Arsenal have had all of the ball - but when Atleti finally create an attack, it's the best of the game so far.

Griezmann, ever the provider of neat little balls, plays a neat little ball into Giuliano's run into space on the right wing.

Giuliano bursts forward towards the byline, before cutting it back into the box, where Álvarez is arriving at pace. The Argentine gets a decent enough first-time contact on Giuliano's pass, but can't direct it goalwards. Nice attacking play, nonetheless, from the visitors.

Griezmann brings down Eze just inside the Atleti half. A chance for the Gunners to swing their first ball into the box?

Yes, albeit indirectly. It's taken short to Rice, who, in turn, clips a cross into the danger area.

Oblak is quickly off his line to claim it, though.

The game has, thus far, been played almost exclusively inside the Atlético half.

Although they've had most of the ball, the hosts are yet to do anything of note.

Arsenal's highest homegrown tally since '09

Per Opta, this is the most Englishman-heavy lineup that Arsenal have named in the Champions League since December 2009.

Sixty seconds in, and it is already clear that our commentator on Spanish TV, Carlos Martínez, is going to have a hell of a time trying to pronounce Miles Lewis-Skelly's surname.

Peeeep! We're underway in London.

Final reminder of the lineups

Koke and Bukayo Saka have just trotted to the center circle for the coin toss. In the meantime, here's a final look at the teams:

Arsenal:

Raya, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori, Lewis-Skelly, Rice, Eze, Saka, Gyökeres, Trossard.

Atlético Madrid:

Oblak, Pubill, Le Normand, Hancko, Ruggeri, Giuliano Simeone, Llorente, Koke, Lookman, Griezmann, Alvarez.

Almost time for kickoff!

The teams are just now emerging from the tunnel at the Emirates. It's quite loud.

Ooh, lovely jubbly. This is what it's all about. We're minutes away from kickoff.

Champions League

Who is Daniel Siebert, referee for Arsenal vs Atlético Madrid, Champions League semifinal 2nd leg?

If you'd like to know more about Herr Siebert, might I suggest you have a gander at this piece by my colleague Roddy Cons.

Who is the referee at the Emirates? Who is the VAR?

Tonight's on-field referee is Germany's Daniel Siebert.

In the VAR booth, Siebert will be assisted by his compatriot Bastian Dankert.

Who are the bookies backing?

The bookmakers, meanwhile, favor PSG and Bayern to win the tournament. They're both most frequently rated at 2/1, per Oddschecker. Arsenal are on 9/4, with Atlético the outsiders on 8/1.

Opta opts for Arsenal

Opta's 'supercomputer’ has been busy running the simulations ahead of this week's Champions Leagues second legs. It gives Arsenal a 68.1% chance of reaching the final at Atlético's expense.

Opta also has the Gunners as the likeliest team to go on and win the entire thing. The soccer stats specialists calculate a 35.8% chance of the Gunners lifting their first ever European Cup.

Paris Saint-Germain are Opta's second favorites, with a 28.6% chance of lifting the trophy.

Gunning for the UCL final

Arsenal's players warm up at the Emirates Stadium, ahead of today's Champions League semifinal second leg.

What the coaches said: Arteta

Simeone's coaching landmark

Simeone, by the way, reached a rather impressive milestone at the weekend.

Atleti's win over Valencia saw the Argentina take charge of his 1,000 game as a coach.

That four-figure haul breaks down as follows: a whopping 795 matches with Atlético; 34 with Racing Club; 61 with Estudiantes; 45 with River Plate; 47 with San Lorenzo; and 18 with Catania.

Champions League

Atlético Madrid lodge UEFA complaint before Champions League semifinal after hotel incident

Has that change of digs worked out for Atlético? It appears not: the club has complained to UEFA about late-night noise outside their hotel.

Sergio Picos and Roddy Cons have the full story.

Champions League

Why Atlético Madrid changed hotels in London before Champions League night against Arsenal: Cholo and his superstitions

This is, of course, Atlético's second visit to the Emirates Stadium this season. In the league phase in October, Los Rojiblancos were on the end of a 4-0 walloping in North London.

For that game, Atlético stayed at the Marriott Hotel in Regent's Park. This time, they chose to sleep at the Courthouse Hotel in Shoreditch.

“It was cheaper”, Simeone quipped on Monday, when asked whether the change was superstition-motivated. 

What the coaches said: Simeone

Champions League

Chasing Erling Haaland: Julián Álvarez driving Atlético Madrid’s Champions League dream

There were some doubts about Julián Álvarez's fitness for today's second leg: the Argentine took a knock in the first leg in Madrid, then sat out Atlético's weekend game against Valencia.

But he’s in the visitors XI and, after scoring in the Spanish capital last week, is third in this season’s Champions Leagues goal charts.

Álvarez has 10 goals in the tournament this term; only Bayern's Harry Kane, with 13 not out, and Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappé, with 15, have more.

My colleagues F.J. Díaz and Roddy Cons take a look at Álvarez's Champions League exploits.

At a glance: Atlético's recent form

Los Rojiblancos' last five results:

May 2: Valencia 0-2 Atletico Madrid, LaLiga
Apr. 29: Atlético Madrid 1-1 Arsenal, UCL
Apr. 25: Atlético Madrid 3-2 Athletic Club, LaLiga
Apr. 22: Elche 3-2 Atlético Madrid, LaLiga
Apr. 18: Atlético Madrid 2-2 Real Sociedad, CdR

Atlético also on two-game domestic streak

Atlético have also recovered from a spot of dicey domestic form to post two league wins on the bounce. After a 3-2 win over Athletic Club 10 days ago, Los Rojiblancos were 2-0 victors at Valencia on Saturday

Simeone's men are almost certainly going to finish fourth in LaLiga. With four games to go in the Spanish league season, they sit five points behind third-placed Villarreal, and 10 points ahead of Real Betis in fifth

At a glance: Arsenal's recent form

The Gunners' last five results:

May 2: Arsenal 3-0 Fulham, EPL
Apr. 29: Atlético 1-1 Arsenal, UCL
Apr. 25: Arsenal 1-0 Newcastle United, EPL
Apr. 19: Manchester City 2-1 Arsenal, EPL
Apr. 15: Arsenal 0-0 Sporting CP, UCL

Arsenal in sight of EPL title

Arsenal welcome Atleti to the Emirates with their Premier League title destiny very much back in their own hands. After Manchester City’s 3-3 draw with Everton, after all, the Gunners now have a five-point lead over Pep Guardiola’s team - and City only have one game in hand.

Between late March and mid-April, Arsenal hit a rather ropey run of domestic form, going four games without a victory in all competitions. However, they have now won their last two in the Premier League, keeping clean sheets in the process.

After a 1-0 win over Newcastle at the end of April, Saturday saw Fulham dispatched 3-0 at the Emirates, thanks to first-half goals from Viktor Gyökeres, Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard.

If Arsenal can see out the Premier League season at the top, it will be the club's first English title win in 22 years.

Arsenal's Emirates entrance

Here, courtesy of Arsenal's social-media team, are images of the Gunners' arrival at the Emirates a short while ago.

Where will this season's UCL final be?

Held on Saturday, May 30, the 2026 Champions League final will be played at Budapest's Puskás Arena.

This will be the first time the event has been staged at the 67,000-capacity arena, which in 2023 was the stage for Sevilla's win over Roma in the Europa League final.

Puskás Arena has also hosted the 2020 UEFA Super Cup final, between Bayern Munich and Sevilla.

Who will the winners face in the UCL final?

The winner in North London today will take on either Bayern Munich or the holders, Paris Saint-Germain, in the final.

Bayern and PSG meet in the second of their seminal in Munich tomorrow, after a frankly silly first leg last Tuesday.

In Paris seven days ago, PSG were 5-4 winners - having at one point led 5-2. Second-half strikes by Dayot Upamecano and Luis Díaz brought Bayern roaring back into the tie, ahead of its conclusion this midweek.

A clash of two would-be first-time European champs

So, after a first leg dominated by penalties and VAR controversy, it remains all square heading into the decider.

Arsenal are bidding to reach their second ever European Cup final. The Gunners were last in the competition's trophy decider in 2006, when they lost the Champions League final to Barcelona in Paris.

Atlético, meanwhile, are chasing the fourth European Cup final spot in their history. Like Arsenal, they have never won the tournament: they were runners-up in the 1974, 2014 and 2016 finals. On each occasion, in agonizing fashion.

Atleti locker room locked in

Atlético will be in their blue change kit today, by the way. 

Zubimendi out as Arteta makes several changes from first leg

As for Arsenal, there are a good few changes to the team that began the opening leg in the Spanish capital. Five in all, unless my maths is failing me.

The major news is that Martín Zubimendi is not in the lineup; as against Fulham at the weekend, Miles Lewis-Skelly is to replace the Spaniard in the midfield, it would seem.

After Martin Odegaard missed the Fulham game with a knee issue, Eberechi Eze starts in place of the Norwegian today, while Bukayo Saka is again in the lineup after returning as a starter on Saturday. 

On the left flank of the attack, Leandro Trossard gets the nod over Gabriel Martinelli. On the left of defense, meanwhile, Riccardo Calafioris the choice for Arteta, who had fielded Piero Hincapié in Madrid.

Le Norman in for Atleti; Cardoso on bench

For Atlético Madrid, Diego Simeone makes one change to the team that began the first leg, bringing Robin Le Normand into the center of defense.

Marc Pubill shifts to right-back, with Marcos Llorente pushing forward into the midfield. Jonny Cardoso is the player who drops to the bench.

Arsenal fans outside the Emirates Stadium ahead of today's semifinal second leg.

Atlético lineup confirmed

And Atlético's XI is also up! Simeone's team will line up thusly: Oblak, Pubill, Le Normand, Hancko, Ruggeri, Giuliano Simeone, Llorente, Koke, Lookman, Griezmann, Alvarez.

Arsenal line up confirmed

Here's the Arsenal lineup: Raya, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori, Lewis-Skelly, Rice, Eze, Saka, Gyökeres, Trossard.

Champions League

Mikel Arteta rages against Champions League officials: “Unacceptable”

Speaking after last Wednesday's first leg, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta raged: "What I am incredibly fuming with is how the penalty on Ebs [Eze] gets overturned in the manner that it happened, when it's not a clear and obvious error.

“And this changes the course of the game. And at this level, I'm sorry but this cannot happen.”

Debating refereeing decisions is, frankly, tedious and pointless. Which is to say that this will be my last post on the matter. But I would agree that Makkelie's original decision - whether or not you think Hancko fouled Eze - should not have been overturned.

As Arteta points out, VAR is only supposed to intervene in the event of clear and obvious mistakes by the on-field referee. By blowing for a foul by Hancko, Makkelie certainly did not commit an immediately evident error.

What happened in the first leg?

Last week’s first leg in Madrid was very much a tale of spot-kicks.

At the end of a more or less even first half, Viktor Gyökeres thrashed home a penalty to give Arsenal the lead at the Estadio Metropolitano.

After the break, Atlético were much the better side. Ten minutes into the second half, Los Rojiblancos got a deserved equalizer when Julián Álvarez also netted with a thunderous finish from 12 yards.

Although the Gunners were outplayed for much of the second 45, it seemed they were to have the chance to score a late second when referee Danny Makkelie pointed to the spot, after David Hancko put in a clumsy old challenge on Eberechi Eze.

After a VAR review, however, Makkelie reversed his decision. Arsenal were a shade cheesed off about that.

Champions League

Arsenal vs Atlético Madrid live stream: TV channel, kickoff time, how to watch in the USA | Champions League semifinal 2nd leg 2025/26

Should you be wondering how you can watch Arsenal vs Atlético on TV or online, let me point you in the direction of this article by my colleague Bryan Arellano.

What time is kickoff?

Today's last-four decider kicks off at 8:00 p.m. local time; in the U.S., that's a start time of 3:00 p.m. ET/12 noon PT.

Team news should be with us by about 2:00 p.m. ET. 

Arsenal vs Atlético: welcome!

Hello! We have a rather big night of association football in prospect in North London.

After a 1-1 draw in Madrid six days ago, Arsenal and Atlético Madrid do battle once more, in the second and deciding leg of their Champions League semifinal. It is, certainly in European terms, the most significant game at the Emirates Stadium since the Gunners faced Manchester United at the same stage of the same competition in 2009.  

For the winner, a ticket to Budapest will be their prize.