Arsenal faced Atletico Madrid in the Champions League semi-final first leg on Wednesday night, but there appears to be a huge sense of frustration in the Gunners dressing room.
Referee Danny McCarey was at the center of the match between Arsenal and Atletico Madrid (Image: Getty Images)
Gabriel Jesus led the chorus of discontent at Arsenal, but insisted they are firmly on track to reach the Champions League final.
In the first semi-final against Atlético Madrid, two penalties were awarded and a controversy ensued over the overturned penalty, perhaps the most obvious at the Metropolitano.
Gunners strikers Jesus, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli all went into the fight believing Arsenal would use the fuel to ensure victory in next week’s second leg.
Victor Gokeres converted a penalty after Arsenal were forced at the back. Atlético’s spot-kick was taken by Julian Alvarez after a handball with Ben White.
Dutch referee Danny McCarey later overturned a penalty award for David Hanko’s challenge on Eberechi Eze after checking the VAR screen 13 times amid cries of protest from Atletico.
read more: Diego Simeone’s actions branded ‘terrible’, pundits all agree on Arsenal penalty controversyread more: Steven Gerrard clashes with Martin Keown over Mikel Arteta’s actions after Arsenal draw
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On any other night, a draw is considered a good result. However, Arsenal played well enough to win. They must win the second leg to reach the Champions League final for the first time in 20 years.
“Hopefully we can play a great game at home in front of our fans and reach the final. We knew that, but obviously we came here to get a result,” Jesus said.
“Unfortunately, we conceded a penalty. In my view it was a penalty. That’s the rule. I obviously didn’t see it afterwards, but I think it was a penalty against Evs. But that’s the game, that’s the Champions League.”
“When I was at Manchester City, if I remember correctly, we played them in the quarter-finals and it was a very tough game.
Gabriel Jesus gave his opinion on the controversy in Madrid (Image: Getty Images)
“So it happens like this sometimes. Like I said, coming here and playing them, we played well. And now we have to play them at home, so it’s going to be another good game, but we’re playing at home.”
It was a world away from the other semi-final, a thrilling nine-goal game between Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain. But Jesus says that in such a hot atmosphere, they were just as tough.
“Obviously yesterday everyone saw a different game (Bayern Munich vs. PSG) in terms of football. It was a very open game, both teams were attacking, very open, there was a lot of space,” Jesus said.
“This time it was a more closed game, more positioning, more tactical. This is football, that’s what football is about. So next week, I believe the other two teams that made it to the semi-finals will again have a more open game. Our game will be a little more closed, so that’s part of it.”
Saka has a message for the second leg (Image: Getty Images)
Saka, who came on as a substitute but is expected to start against Fulham on Saturday, said: “I have mixed feelings. I wanted to go home with a win, but I’m willing to take a draw.”
“It’s half-time and we can go back to Emirates Stadium with confidence. We’re really excited and we’re going into the game with confidence.”
“A draw is not bad, but we have talent in the group so I don’t think we will ever be satisfied unless we win. We want to win and we will do that again next week.”
“We’re looking forward to next week at the Emirates Stadium. I’m sure it’ll be much better than what we saw tonight and that will definitely give us a boost. We’ll see next week, of course, if we can continue our unbeaten run.”
Martinelli also gave his verdict on the draw between Arsenal and Atletico Madrid (Image: Getty Images)
Martinelli said: “When Atlético won, we knew it was going to be a big battle, but it wasn’t that difficult. They have a really good team and of course we wanted to come here and win the game.
“But we will get a draw and play away. We have a big game next week and we will fight for it. We play for Arsenal, we know what a big club is like and we believe in ourselves.”
“We will try to get a draw. Of course we could have done better, but this is the semi-final of the Champions League so the opponent will be really strong and we want to draw a draw and go to London and win the game and get to the final.”
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