It feels almost impossible to look at this game through any other lens other than the one that focuses on the two big penalty calls that went against Arsenal last night.
And yes, despite Diego Simeone's comments about Viktor Gyokeres' penalty, that first one was clearly a penalty for Arsenal, so we can accept that and move on. The one that Ben White conceded, however, was super harsh.
Even if the ball hadn't hit his leg first, the grounds for a penalty would be slimmer in England, so the fact that it was given with the touch that bounced up on his arm is, frankly, ludicrous. Are we to tell players to somehow now learn not to make human reactions by putting your arms down if you are falling to the ground?
This is where I am really pleased Mikel Arteta landed where he did with his scathing comments on one penalty incident, but acknowledgement of the situation with the other.
He just (pun intended) "held his hands up" on the fact those penalties are given, but was not so cool with the Eberechi Eze non-penalty. And that's understandable. Because it was a penalty. Clear as day.
Arsenal and Eze were robbed of a slender lead to take back to the Emirates because a referee was swayed by a home team manager who leveraged the fervent atmosphere to its fullest. And unfortunately, the referee did not stay strong in that moment.
But Arsenal can take comfort in the fact that the return leg is now a one-off game. No away goals. Home advantage. And confidence that they can trouble a decent Atletico Madrid side. I guess we have to take it. I know I certainly will.
Find more from Chris Howard at Suburban Goonersand the Same Old Arsenal Podcast
