Mikel Arteta branded the decision to overturn a late penalty for Eberechi Eze as completely unacceptable after Arsenal were held to a 1-1 draw by Atletico Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final.

With the tie finely poised at 1-1 and Arsenal pushing for a winner, substitute Eze burst into the Atletico box on 78 minutes and tangled with defender David Hancko. Replays showed clear foot-on-foot contact and Dutch referee Danny Makkelie initially pointed to the spot, appearing to hand the visitors a golden chance to regain the lead.

However, after a lengthy VAR review and multiple replays at the pitchside monitor, Makkelie dramatically reversed his decision, ruling that the contact was not sufficient for a penalty. The Emirates crowd will now host a second leg with the tie level, rather than with Arsenal carrying a precious advantage.

Arteta did not hide his anger in his post-match interviews, insisting the call had fundamentally altered the semi-final.

After going back into the dressing room, speaking to the boys and watching the penalty incident, it is extremely disappointing and annoying because it was against the rules and it changes the course of the tie, he said. I am very, very upset. The whole sequence. There is clear contact. You make the decision, you cannot overturn that decision when you have to look at it 13 times. It is completely unacceptable at this level. It is the wrong decision.

Asked whether Arsenal would lodge a formal complaint with UEFA, Arteta said he would leave that to the club hierarchy, adding that no appeal could restore the lost opportunity.

The night had already been shaped by two earlier penalties. Arsenal went ahead before the interval when Viktor Gyokeres was bundled over by Hancko and converted from the spot. Atletico responded after the break when VAR spotted a handball by Ben White, the ball ricocheting off his knee onto his arm before Julian Alvarez equalised.

On that incident, Arteta admitted the Champions League applies a stricter interpretation of handball than the Premier League, noting that officials have at least been consistent, even as high-profile pundits and coaches across Europe call for clearer guidance.

Despite his fury over the Eze decision, Arteta praised his players for their composure in a hostile Madrid atmosphere and insisted the tie remains firmly alive ahead of the return leg in London.