Arsenal went in 1-0 up at halftime against Atlético Madrid in the Champions League semi-final first leg, with Viktor Gyokeres scoring from the penalty spot in the 45th minute after a foul on him in the area. Jan Oblak guessed right but could not get enough on the effort to keep it out.
The penalty came after Hancko ran into Gyokeres from behind inside the box, and Zubimendi had already helped set the move in motion with a give-and-go involving Odegaard before finding him again. It was Gyokeres’s 19th goal of the season and the moment that gave Arsenal control after a nervy opening spell.
By the 40th minute, Atlético had managed only one shot on target, Julian Alvarez’s effort in the 14th minute, and Arsenal were said to have dictated the tempo. They also kept Antoine Griezmann quiet in the first half, which helped explain why Atlético were described as having work to do after falling behind at home.
That left the Spanish side angry as well as trailing, with the live match account describing Atlético as fuming after the decision. In a game that has so far been shaped by small margins and one clean finish, the return to the challenge for Atlético is simple: find a way through Arsenal’s control before the first leg slips further away.