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Steven Gerrard has urged Mikel Arteta to recall two Arsenal players for the second leg of their Champions League semi-final and showered praise on one \u201cimmense\u201d player after their performance on Wednesday night.<\/p>\n
Viktor Gyokeres gave Arsenal the lead from the spot after he was bundled over in the box by D\u00e1vid Hancko, before Julian Alvarez also converted a penalty to level the tie following a Ben White handball.<\/p>\n
There was late controversy<\/strong> when referee Danny Makkelie overturned his decision to award Arsenal another penalty for a Hancko foul on Eberechi Eze after being asked to consult his pitch-side monitor.<\/p>\n READ MORE: VAR and its foundational lie exposed yet again as Arsenal pay penalty in Madrid<\/strong><\/p>\n Arsenal will head into the second leg at the Emirates as strong favourites to prevail and reach the Champions League final, but Gerrard believes Arteta should bring Eze and Bukayo Saka back into his starting lineup after both made a positive impact from the bench in the Wanda Metropolitano.<\/p>\n \u201cI think in the second leg that have got to get Eze on the pitch,\u201d he told TNT Sports post-match.<\/p>\n \u201cI think he gives hem just that little bit more spark, little bit more power. He just looks that little bit more dangerous for me.\u201d<\/p>\n Asked if Saka should also come into the team for the second leg, Gerrard added: \u201cHe does for me. You play your big-game players in the second leg.<\/p>\n \u201cYou can understand them wanting to change and freshen the energy up and change the squad about, but you play your biggest players in the second leg of a Champions League semi-final.\u201d<\/p>\n Declan Rice was asked to play a slightly deeper role than he\u2019s become accustomed to in the first leg, often dropping deep between the two centre-backs, and Gerrard was full of praise for yet another \u201coutstanding performance\u201d from the England international.<\/p>\n \u201cI thought he was immense, especially in the first half,\u201d Gerrard added. \u201cHe was dominant, in and out of possession, played a slightly different role, slightly deeper.<\/p>\n \u201cI think he was asked to drop in between the centre halves just to give them the extra man in the build-up because they were pressing with two centre forwards.<\/p>\n \u201cBut I think out of possession, the way he rgains the ball, the way he covers ground, he\u2019s some size and he\u2019s some profile. I thought it was an outstanding performance from him once again.\u201d<\/p>\n READ NEXT: Gyokeres battles Simeone \u2018dark arts\u2019 to enjoy sliding doors moment in \u00a3130m Arsenal boost<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/div>\n