Arsenal played to a draw against Atletico Madrid in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League semi-final at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium. The result leaves the Gunners in a favorable position heading into the second leg at the Emirates Stadium.

The match was marked by controversy surrounding a penalty decision that was initially awarded to Arsenal but subsequently overturned by the referee. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta expressed strong criticism of the decision reversal in his post-match comments.

Arteta described the penalty U-turn as 'completely unacceptable' during his post-game interview, indicating significant frustration with the officiating decision that could have impacted the match outcome.

Despite the contentious penalty incident, Arsenal's away draw puts them in control of the tie. The Gunners will need only a narrow victory in the second leg at their home ground to advance to the Champions League final.

The return leg at the Emirates Stadium will determine which team progresses to the Champions League final, with Arsenal holding the advantage of playing at home while needing just a minimal winning margin to secure their place in the competition's showpiece event.