Ben White VAR decision leads to penalty drama between Arsenal and Atletico Madrid - but would it have been given in the Premier League? Expert says no

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Steven Gerrard and Darren Fletcher questioned whether Atletico Madrid’s penalty against Arsenal would have been given in the Premier League.

Atletico awarded penalty after VAR check for White handball

Video credit: TNT Sports

The two teams were playing at the Metropolitano in the first leg of their semi-final clash in the UEFA Champions League, and Arsenal were 1-0 ahead.

Viktor Gyokeres converted a penalty on 44 minutes, and Mikel Arteta’s side had largely been in control of the game.

However, Atletico were given the chance to level when a penalty was awarded 10 minutes after the restart.

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Marcos Llorente attempted a volley into the box from a corner, and while it did not appear likely to trouble the goalkeeper, it struck Arsenal defender Ben White’s arm.

The ball bounced up as White was turning away from the ball, and hit the England defender on the forearm.

Immediately, the Atletico team, and manager Diego Simeone, appealed for a spot-kick as a result of the contact.

Atletico awarded penalty after VAR check for White handball

Video credit: TNT Sports

TNT Sports commentator Darren Fletcher exclaimed: ”If they're given last night, they're giving that.”

Steven Gerrard, alongside him, added: ”When your arm is away from your body, you don't mean it, but in this competition, they're given.

”I don't think it's a penalty in the Premier League. The reaction on the pitch, it was like 10 Simeones.”

Fletcher replied to him, suggesting that the penalty may not have been given had it occurred in the Premier League.

He said: ”That’s the important part of this sentence: ‘In this competition.’ The threshold is different in the Champions League than the Premier League.”

Atletico forward Julian Alvarez stepped up to take the penalty, and he duly converted in the 56th minute.

That put the scoreline at 1-1, with the two sides level on the night, and there was more penalty drama when Arsenal were awarded a penalty with around 10 minutes of regulation time still to play.

Arsenal awarded penalty after Gyokeres brought down - but is it right call?

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David Hancko appeared to catch Eberechi Eze in the home side’s penalty area, with the Arsenal forward taking a touch before contact.

The referee initially awarded a penalty, but that brought yet more animated reaction from Simeone, who appeared certain that a foul should not have been given.

Ally McCoist thought it was a penalty, saying: "He definitely catches him. If he doesn't give it, he's got to book the player."

When the VAR review was announced, Gerrard observed: "It's such a big moment for both the teams."

McCoist added: "His mate's telling him there's serious doubt, so he's over there for a reason."

The match official then consulted VAR at length as he checked his decision, before rescinding his first choice, and overturning the award of a penalty, which might have put Arsenal back in front.

Fletcher said Hancko was "the most relieved man in Madrid."

McCoist saw some gamesmanship at play after the decision, saying the home crowd had an impact on the eventual decision: "I think if it's given in the other box, it stays given, because of the crowd."

There had already been controversy involving Hancko and a penalty, given the Slovakian was the man penalised for a foul on Gyokeres for the first penalty.

A give-and-go between Martin Odegaard and Martin Zubimendi saw the Spaniard tee up the Swedish striker, before Gyokeres was bundled over by Hancko.

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