Penalty CHAOS at the Bernabeu! Fans go into meltdown as Bukayo Saka FLUFFS Panenka for Arsenal moments before Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe sees spot-kick ruled out after agonising six-minute VAR check

Arsenal took a 3-0 lead to the Santiago Bernabeu in the quarter-finals of the Champions League and were handed a glorious chance to extend that advantage in the opening stages of the second leg. A tug by Raul Asencio on Mikel Merino saw the visitors awarded a spot-kick, with duties handed to Saka. The winger stepped up and attempted a cheeky Panenka, only to see goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois claw the ball away, leaving Arsenal fans in disbelief.

Arsenal fan @AtwoliiYa wrote on X: "We are cooked you don't miss such a penalty."

Another supporter @nickraj4real was also shocked, posting: "He never does that. If you're gonna dink, you better score, massive opportunity to kill it for good."

And @DavidBl74071930 added: "Terrible penalty try that nonsense on a night like this is criminal," while @Gunner_Opinions posted: "Thinking that he's world class when he's a glorified Theo Walcott."

Meanwhile, journalist @RafaelH117 added: "It’s not like Saka had a bad history taking penalties, like missing one in a Euros final, right? And a f*cking panenka vs Courtois of all keepers, embarrassing."

There was more drama to follow shortly afterwards when Mbappe went down under pressure from Declan Rice and saw the referee point to the spot once again. However, after a lengthy VAR check that lasted six minutes, the spot-kick was ruled out and the yellow card awarded to Rice, which would have ruled the midfielder out of a potential semi-final first leg, rescinded.

A statement by UEFA subsequently confirmed: "The penalty for Real Madrid has been taken away due to a non-foul by Declan Rice."

Courtoist has saved eight of the 39 penalties he has faced as a Real Madrid player in all competitions.

The winners of the tie between Real Madrid and Arsenal will go on to play Paris Saint-Germain in the semi-finals of the Champions League.