Lookman falters as Arsenal holds Atletico to draw in Madrid

Arsenal and Atletico Madrid scored a penalty each in their 1-1 UFA Champions League semi-final first leg match at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano stadium in Spain. Two penalties decided the tension-soaked encounter, with Viktoor Gyokores and Julian Alvarez, netting from the spot for both sides, while Super Eagles of Nigeria’s Ademola Lookman and Antoine Griezmann […]

Arsenal and Atletico Madrid scored a penalty each in their 1-1 UFA Champions League semi-final first leg match at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano stadium in Spain.

Two penalties decided the tension-soaked encounter, with Viktoor Gyokores and Julian Alvarez, netting from the spot for both sides, while Super Eagles of Nigeria’s Ademola Lookman and Antoine Griezmann missed multiple goalscoring opportunities to give Diego Simeone’s side a first leg advantage.

After a nine-goal thriller in the first semi-final between Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain, the two defensive-minded teams could not replicate the spectacle.

Instead the match serve up two penalties and a David Raya masterclass in goal, with Nigeria’s Ademola Lookman also missing good opportunities to seal a win for the home side.

Both sides exchanges chances in the early exchanges, with Piero Hincapie blazed high and wide from a Noni Madueke cross and Raya pulling out an excellent stop on Julian Alvarez’s shot.

Madueke also had a curler miss the far post y inches before Viktor Gyokores won a penalty and dispatched it to put Arsenal 1-0 up at halftime.

Atletico replied with their own penalty early in the second half through Alvarez, the Argentine striker provided an emphatic finish to restore parity on 56 minutes with his 10th UCL goal this season.

The home side had several chances to take the lead but Antoine Griezmann was denied by the woodwork while Lookman’s efforts at goal were saved by Raya.

Arsenal had a penalty on Eberechi Eze overturned for simulation, and Mikel Arteta’s Gunners held on for a draw going into the second leg next week at the Emirates stadium.