Mikel Arteta faced the media after his Arsenal side earned a 1-1 draw in the Spanish capital, being pegged back after taking the lead by Atletico Madrid. It was a tale of three penalties that leaned into the narrative of a game, contrasting the fireworks in Paris the night before.
But the attention will be firmly on the referee’s decisions. Danny Makkelie, the Dutch official, was told to reassess his decision to give a penalty after Eberechi Eze was brought down in the box, to then overturn the call.
The Gunners boss gave his thoughts on the performance and was, of course, asked for his view on the big calls in the game.
Here is every word from the manager:
Mikel Arteta faced the media after his Arsenal side earned a 1-1 draw in the Spanish capital, being pegged back after taking the lead by Atletico Madrid. It was a tale of three penalties that leaned into the narrative of a game, contrasting the fireworks in Paris the night before.
But the attention will be firmly on the referee’s decisions. Danny Makkelie, the Dutch official, was told to reassess his decision to give a penalty after Eberechi Eze was brought down in the box, to then overturn the call.
The Gunners boss gave his thoughts on the performance and was, of course, asked for his view on the big calls in the game.
Here is every word from the manager:
What were your thoughts on the game?
Well, first of all, what a privilege to play the Champions League semi-final. This stadium what an atmosphere they created. We had big parts of the game, very similar to what we wanted. We went ahead with the penalty, unfortunately in the second half we started a bit sloppy with certain giveaways and giving them some momentum. And that’s the moment that they used it. That’s something that we knew we would have to go through. In the manner that we did in the penalty, we were disappointed. And in the Premier League, it’s not a penalty, but here I have to accept that with the rules and obviously how consistent they’ve been. For example, yesterday in Bayern Munich, I accept that this is a handball. What I’m incredibly fuming with is how the hell the penalty on Ebz gets overturned in the manner that it happened when there is no clear and obvious error. And this changes the course of the game. And at this level, I’m sorry but this cannot happen.
Have you had any explanation on that?
No. A very clear explanation of the decision and what happens for a period of time a referee has to watch it 13 times what’s more clear than that? It’s impossible and we are all fuming about it.
We saw the reaction of the crowd and the Atletico bench to that moment. Do you think that had any impact?
That has nothing to do with that. I’m sure that they are very well aware of what the reaction is going to be. It’s normal that reaction. We need to apply the rules. The same thing that I’m saying, that they applied the rules on Ben White’s penalty. That is difficult to accept. But it is a penalty with a handball. And what they said at the beginning of the season. Yes, it’s a clear and very obvious penalty. That’s it.
Can I ask, do you think the process of the use of VAR needs looking at?
I don’t know. That’s their job. And they have a process. And whatever they do, I’m sure that their decision is the right thing. I have nothing to say. I’m just judging the action of the manner that happened and the way it was overturned.
You say you’re fuming. Can you and your players now use that as fuel for the rest of the season? In particular, in the second half.
When you have fought so hard for nine months to be in this position. I mean, that’s another goal that changed completely over the course of the tie. And it cannot happen. I’m sorry. We put so much on it. So, so, so much on it. This cannot happen.
Just on the decision again. Will you approach UEFA or the case law about this decision not going your way?
No, no, no. I think that it’s up to them to decide the best thing to do. Now they’re not going to give us a penalty. That’s gone. And that’s it. That’s over. Let’s talk about football.
Mikel, can I ask you about Viktor? Because, you know, he’s come in for a lot of scrutiny this season. But it’s his 19th goal. He had a really strong first half performance. Just some reactions to his display.
Yeah I agree with that. He had a really strong first half, I think we were dominating, you know they’re in a situation that he created, he created the goal and the penalty. He was ice cold to score it in the manner that he did. Then the second half changed a little bit and credit to them as well but there are things we need to do much much better and I think we have to, change that, we change the game and finish on top.
Just going back to the penalty. Do you think that the referee needs to be a bit stronger? Because obviously he was told to go and look at the monitor. But he watched the replay 12, 13, 14 times. And then decided to overturn it. I mean, he obviously still had the power to keep his decision.
I’m not here to judge the processes, it’s their process, it’s a decision that is clear, stick to it because that’s the rules. I’m here to coach the players, to accept that and if there is something different when you play in this part of the Champions League, and change it, it cannot happen.
How pleased were you with how your team dealt with this occasion? This atmosphere. Loo roll thrown. The grass apparently is a bit too long. The pitch is getting water at half-time. With all that backdrop, how pleased are you with the way your team handled it?
I’m very proud, I said that to the boys, the way we handled the context for nine and a half months. Just remarkable, and I really value what they’ve done because I’ve seen some of the best teams in the world here fall apart and concede three and four. We didn’t get the result that we wanted, and the way we planned the game, we wanted to win it. At least it is in our hands, in front of our people. We want to be in that final and in a week’s time we are going to have the opportunity to do so.
