Atletico vs Arsenal: UCL match turns into pure drama with grass length, VAR and White vs Simeone drama

Arsenal are 90 minutes away from reaching their second Champions League final after holding Atletico Madrid to a 1-1 draw at the Metropolitano on Tuesday in the semi-final first-leg match. Intriguing as it may be, the game failed to match the PSG vs Bayern Munich tie that produced nine goals, but there was no dearth of intensity and drama.

It all began with Arsenal complaining about the length of the grass at Madrid's home stadium. The allowed length of grass is between 21 and 30 millimetres, but Arsenal alleged that the grass was longer than the limit, allowing Atletico and coach Diego Simeone to successfully execute their "Haram Ball" - an ultra-defensive footballing tactic.

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But it turns out the grass was only 26 millimetres long, according to CBS Sports.

VAR and White vs Simeone drama

This was just one of the many controversies that transpired in the Atleti vs Arsenal game, as Mikel Arteta alleged that referee Danny Makkelie made a mistake by overturning a penalty decision that would have allowed the London club to win on the night.

Both goals in the match -- from Julian Alavarez for Madrid and Victor Gykoeres for Arsenal -- came from the spot, and Arsenal had another chance in the 78th minute when David Hancko tackled Eberechi Eze.

While Hancko appeared to have stepped onto the toe of Eze, Makkelie overturned the penalty decision after consulting with VAR, leaving Arteta fuming at the decision.

"What I’m incredibly fuming about is how the hell the penalty on Ebs gets overturned," Arteta said. "If you have to watch it 13 times...That's a goal that can change the course of the season. This cannot happen."

It didn't just end here.

Arsenal defender Ben White was also involved in an altercation with Simeone after the match as the England footballer was seen walking onto the Atletico club emblem painted on the pitch while returning to the locker room.

In the viral videos, Simeone could be seen initially trying to calm the matter as an Atletico player confronted White for his 'disrespectful' act, but it soon became intense as the manager tapped the player's back strongly and he reacted sharply.

Fortunately, the security intervened the tussle ended soon. But with everything to play for in the second leg, expect a lot more fireworks at the Emirates Stadium on 5 May.