Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta was left ‘fuming’ after the club’s penalty was overturned in a 1-1 draw against Atletico Madrid in the first leg semifinal of the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday. The Spaniard said it was “against the rules” and “changed the course” of the semifinal clash.

Viktor Gyökeres scored from a spot kick at the stroke of half-time but Argentina’s striker Julian Alvarez also scored from the spot after 11 minutes into the second half.

However, the visitors were denied a second penalty when substitute Eberechi Eze was challenged in the box by Atlético defender Dávid Hancko. Initially, dutch referee Danny Makkelie pointed to the spot but later reversed his decision on VAR.

“What I’m incredibly fuming with is how the hell the penalty on Ebs [Eze] gets overturned in the manner that it happened when there is no clear and obvious error,” he said. “This changes the course of the game. And at this level, I’m sorry but this cannot happen.

“It was against the rules and I don’t understand it. There is clear contact. He makes the decision and you can’t overturn it when you have to watch it 13 times.

“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.”

On the other hand, Madrid head coach Diego Simeone had a different opinion on the penalties.

“For the first penalty, in my humble opinion, it’s from the back, the player waits for the contact, it seems to me that in the Champions League semifinals it really needs to be a penalty,” Simeone said.

“And then the handball, it was given thanks to the VAR, and the second penalty wasn’t, thanks to the VAR. Sometimes VAR gives and sometimes it takes away.”

Arsenal will host Atletico Madrid in the second leg on Tuesday.