{"id":32195,"date":"2026-05-01T14:27:48","date_gmt":"2026-05-01T14:27:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eplvip.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/01\/arsenal-dressing-room-speaks-out-over-atletico-madrid-controversy-those-are-the-rules\/"},"modified":"2026-05-01T14:27:48","modified_gmt":"2026-05-01T14:27:48","slug":"arsenal-dressing-room-speaks-out-over-atletico-madrid-controversy-those-are-the-rules","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eplvip.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/01\/arsenal-dressing-room-speaks-out-over-atletico-madrid-controversy-those-are-the-rules\/","title":{"rendered":"Arsenal dressing room speaks out over Atletico Madrid controversy: ‘Those are the rules’"},"content":{"rendered":"
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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.<\/h2>\n
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Referee Danny McCarey was at the center of the match between Arsenal and Atletico Madrid (Image: Getty Images)<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n
Gabriel Jesus led the chorus of discontent at Arsenal, but insisted they are firmly on track to reach the Champions League final.<\/p>\n
In the first semi-final against Atl\u00e9tico Madrid, two penalties were awarded and a controversy ensued over the overturned penalty, perhaps the most obvious at the Metropolitano.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Victor Gokeres converted a penalty after Arsenal were forced at the back. Atl\u00e9tico’s spot-kick was taken by Julian Alvarez after a handball with Ben White.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
read more: Diego Simeone’s actions branded ‘terrible’, pundits all agree on Arsenal penalty controversy<\/span><\/span>read more: Steven Gerrard clashes with Martin Keown over Mikel Arteta’s actions after Arsenal draw<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
Follow the Arsenal FB page! For the latest Gunners news and details, visit our dedicated Facebook page.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
“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.<\/p>\n
“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.”<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I was at Manchester City, if I remember correctly, we played them in the quarter-finals and it was a very tough game.<\/p>\n
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Gabriel Jesus gave his opinion on the controversy in Madrid (Image: Getty Images)<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
“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.”<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
“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.<\/p>\n
“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.”<\/p>\n
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Saka has a message for the second leg (Image: Getty Images)<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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.”<\/p>\n
“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.”<\/p>\n
“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.”<\/p>\n
“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.”<\/p>\n
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Martinelli also gave his verdict on the draw between Arsenal and Atletico Madrid (Image: Getty Images)<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Martinelli said: “When Atl\u00e9tico 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.<\/p>\n
“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.”<\/p>\n
“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.”<\/p>\n
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