Arsène Wenger's hopes of ending his Arsenal tenure with a European trophy were dealt a cruel blow as Antoine Griezmann's 82nd-minute equaliser secured a 1-1 draw for 10-man Atlético Madrid in the Europa League semi-final first leg at the Emirates Stadium.
Alexandre Lacazette had headed Arsenal into a 61st-minute lead, his seventh goal in as many games, after a dominant display from the hosts. However, defensive lapses allowed Griezmann to pounce, capitalising on a ricochet off Laurent Koscielny and a slip from Shkodran Mustafi to squeeze the ball home.
Arsenal had dominated from the outset, with Atlético reduced to ten men in the 10th minute when Sime Vrsaljko received a second yellow card for a late tackle on Lacazette. Diego Simeone was also sent to the stands for protesting. Despite 28 shots to Atlético's six, Arsenal failed to kill the tie, with Jan Oblak producing a string of fine saves.
“We can only look at ourselves,” Wenger said. “We had the chances to be in the final tonight, we were not clinical enough and it’s a bitter taste. We created the anticlimax by giving the goal away and we’re now in a very difficult position.”
The second leg in Madrid on Thursday 3 May will determine who reaches the final in Lyon, with Arsenal needing to score to keep their hopes alive after conceding a crucial away goal.
