Mikel Arteta slammed the “unacceptable” decision to overturn an Arsenal penalty via VAR during their clash with Atletico Madrid, arguing the call fundamentally altered the game’s momentum ahead of the second leg.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta launched a scathing critique of officiating following a controversial VAR intervention during the Gunners’ Champions League semi-final against Atletico Madrid, labeling the decision to overturn a second-half penalty for a foul on Eberechi Eze as “completely unacceptable.” After referee Danny Makkelie was advised by the VAR team to review the pitchside monitor and rescind his initial whistle, Arteta expressed his fury to TNT Sports, stating, “Extremely disappointed and annoyed because it was against the rules, and I don’t understand it, and it changes the course of the time, so very, very upset.”
While the Spaniard begrudgingly accepted a handball penalty awarded against Ben White due to UEFA’s consistency noting, “Ben White’s penalty isn’t a penalty in the Premier League, but it is in UEFA” he remained adamant that the reversal of Eze’s spot-kick was an egregious error, concluding, “At this level, I am sorry it is not acceptable. When you have fought so hard for nine months to be in this position. It cannot happen.”