Arsenal given new Atletico Madrid penalty verdict after Mikel Arteta fury

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Arsenal should have been awarded a second penalty during their Champions League semi-final first leg clash against Atletico Madrid . That is according to former Premier League referee Mark Halsey, who claimed the challenge from David Hancko on Eberechi Eze was "clumsy."

The Gunners were held to a 1-1 draw at the Wanda Metropolitano on Wednesday night. Viktor Gyokeres' 44th-minute spot-kick was cancelled out by Julian Alvarez just before the hour mark.

Yet it could have been far more rewarding for Mikel Arteta's side. Arsenal felt they deserved a second opportunity to score from 12 yards after Eze appeared to be brought down inside the box.

Eze hit the deck after contact from Hancko and referee Makkelie wasted no time in pointing to the spot, much to the fury of Diego Simeone and his Atletico players. However, following a VAR review and Makkelie consulting his pitch-side monitor, the official reversed his original call.

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This left the Gunners incensed after they were denied the chance to retake the lead from the penalty spot.

Arteta criticised the decision in his post-match press conference and said he was "fuming." Meanwhile, Steven Gerrard , Steve McManaman and Martin Keown all agreed onTNT Sports' coverage of ther match that it should have stood as a penalty.

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Now, former Premier League official Halsey has weighed in on the incident, stating he believes the Gunners were hard done by when the penalty was overturned after Makkelie had initially awarded it. He told The Sun : "We've seen another controversial penalty given and then not given after VAR intervention.

"Now for me, in real time, I thought it was a clear foul by Hanko on Eze. Yes, clumsy. Yes, there was contact. Referee Danny Makkelie gives it in real time and then VAR recommends review.

"Now was it a clear and obvious error by the match referee? In my opinion, no.

"Yes, there was contact. But it's not a clear and obvious error, so why, once again has VAR got involved? Being too forensic, they should never have got involved.

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"And I have to say I thought Simeone's actions on the touchline were a disgrace. I just cannot believe that the fourth official did not act and get the referee over to deal with him. But once again we've seen another controversial incident. What a two days we've had in the Champions League Cup semi-finals.

"But for me, it's a penalty and it should have stayed given."

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