Key stats
- Arsenal are undefeated in their last 13 games in the UEFA Champions League, their longest unbeaten streak in the competition (since at least 2004/2005).
- Atletico Madrid have scored in 14 of their 15 games, no team has done so more often in the Champions League.
- Atletico Madrid have scored in their last 12 games in the UEFA Champions League, their longest run of games with a goal in the competition (since at least 2004/2005).
Highlights
Match report
Contesting a second successive UCL semi-final for the first time in their history, Arsenal knew a rock-solid start was needed in the Spanish capital, where Atlético were unbeaten in their previous six UCL knockout games against English sides (W3, D3).
Roared on by the vociferous home support, Diego Simeone’s men created the first meaningful chance of the match, as David Raya reacted smartly to parry a curled effort from Julián Alvarez around the post.
The Gunners responded well to that scare, though, with captain Martin Ødegaard seeing a dangerous strike blocked by Johnny Cardoso, before the lively Noni Madueke fired wide from 25 yards.
Having emerged victorious from five of their preceding six UCL trips this campaign (D1), Arsenal continued to stamp their authority on proceedings as the first half progressed, and Mikel Arteta’s men were rewarded shortly before the break when Dávid Hancko clumsily bundled into the back of Viktor Gyökeres in the box.
The Swede dusted himself off and assumed the responsibility from the spot, powering a confident penalty through the grasp of Jan Oblak to score his 19th goal of the season, giving the Gunners a valuable advantage at HT.
Determined to find an immediate response, Atlético came flying out of the blocks at the start of the second period, with Alvarez flashing a free-kick into the side-netting and Ademola Lookman seeing a close-range shot repelled by Raya.
The hosts’ pressure showed no signs of relenting, and they were soon awarded a penalty of their own when Ben White was penalised for handball in the box. Alvarez stepped up to the spot for the Rojiblancos, and the talismanic Argentine swept a clinical penalty beyond a stationary Raya to restore parity.
Armed with the momentum heading into the final half-hour, Atlético went agonisingly close to taking the lead in the 63rd minute, as Antoine Griezmann’s clipped effort bounced off the bar.
The hosts remained the more threatening of the two sides in the final third, but profligate finishing from Lookman and a smart stop from Raya kept Arsenal on level terms.
Those misses looked to have proved costly when the visitors were awarded their second penalty of the evening after Hancko was adjudged to have tripped substitute Eberechi Eze, but the decision was eventually overturned following a lengthy VAR review.
Despite that reprieve, the hosts struggled to rediscover their attacking spark in the closing stages, as Arsenal held firm to extend their unbeaten run in the tournament, and take a positive scoreline to North London next week.
As for Atlético, they’ll travel to the Emirates with plenty of confidence despite failing to win, having progressed from six of their last seven semi-final appearances across all UEFA competitions.
Flashscore Man of the Match: David Raya (Arsenal)
Post-match comments
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta was unsurprisingly left unimpressed by the decision to overturn his side's late penalty.
"Speaking to the boys and understanding the penalty incident for the second goal getting overturned. It was against the rules and I don't understand it. Very upset," he told TNT Sports.
"There is clear contact; he makes the decision and you can't overturn it when you have to watch it 13 times."
Asked whether the referee may felt the pressure of the home team and their support, Arteta said: "I don't know. That's an answer for him. It's the wrong decisions and it changes the course of the tie."
Arsenal striker Viktor Gyokores was happy with his side's performance, but warned there is still a huge second leg to come.
"I think in the first half we controlled the game quite well," he told TNT Sports.
"We had a few good opportunities and managed to score. In the second half they started much better and managed to get a goal and then towards the end we had a few okay chances.
"Overall it was a tough game, it's a tough place to come but it's only half time."
Equally unsurprising is the fact that Atletico Madrid goalkeeper Jan Oblak agreed with the referee's decision to overturn the penalty.
"It was an intense game from both sides," he told TNT Sports. "Both sides were looking for a win but I think we had a good game but at 1-1, there's a lot to decide in London next week.
"There's always relief when a penalty is overturned, I hope I would have stopped it anyway. It was the referee's decision to change it and we agree with him."