Record FA Cup Champions Arsenal played a 1-1 draw against Atletico Madrid at the Wanda Metropolitano last night, leaving everything to play for at the Emirates, Soccernet.ng reports.
The action on display was less of a glamour than what the fans had experienced at the Parc des Princes on Tuesday night, as Bayern and Paris Saint-Germain battled it out in a nine-goal thriller.
Viktor Gyokeres’ penalty was the only spark in the first half at the Wanda Metropolitano. David Hancko took down the Swedish striker in the 43rd minute, and he stepped up to take the resulting penalty, sending Jan Oblak the wrong way.
Atletico turned up the heat in the second half, and their hard work paid off eleven minutes after the restart, after Marcos Llorente’s volley hit Ben White’s Arm.
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Julian Alvarez stepped up to take the resulting penalty, slamming the ball into the top corner and leaving David Raya rooted to the spot.
Antoine Griezmann struck the crossbar and Ademola Lookman came close twice, but none of those efforts broke down the Arsenal backline as they held on.
Have a look at what the Arsenal fans feel about their draw to Atletico Madrid, as compiled by Soccernet.ng.
Arsenal fans bemoan Ben White’s incompetence vs Atletico Madrid
“We were robbed in Madrid; we should’ve gotten a penalty when Hancko stepped on Eberechi Eze. Still, it was a good game,” Amara said.
“Arsenal had just two shots on target; it was like the players were told not to shoot. Ben White this year has been a disaster; I knew from the start that he would be a problem,” she concluded.
“As an Arsenal fan, I don’t enjoy the football I’m seeing. However, I’ll take the result over beautiful football,” Adam Godfrey.
“Arsenal keep scoring just one goal. Same thing against Manchester City, Bournemouth. Yet the fans will tell us it’s enough. Nothing is surprising anymore,” Adekola Joseph said.
“The cancelled penalty was never a penalty. Eze was looking for the contact to fall; it’s unlike the first penalty that was given to Gyokeres, where the striker was looking to shoot,” he concluded.
“It is so shameful that people complain about the grass and use that as an excuse for poor performance. The bottom line is that, for the past five years, the Premier League has been disgusting. They’ve prioritised money over football,” Chukwuma Henry opined.
The second leg will be played at Arsenal’s home next week, the Emirates Stadium, next Tuesday.
