And that’s that. Here’s David Hytner’s match report. Bye!
Here’s Arsène Wenger. Did that feel, he’s asked, like a defeat for his side?
Yes. because I think, looking at the performance and the way the game went, it was the worst possible result for us. But we have to go there in a positive mood and qualify over there. Unfortunately we gave a goal away from nowhere. We have to recover from the disappointment and prepare for the next one.
I think we could already be qualified tonight but it didn’t happen. Their goalkeeper made many saves. You see they have the quality up front, if you make a mistake they take advantage. For us, once we scored the 1-0 it was very important not to concede a goal. They couldn’t score with a combination, they could only score with a long ball. We have to look at ourselves.
We know we can score anywhere. Let’s focus on that. What matters is that we go there with absolute belief to do it.
Arsenal had 85% possession in the second half. 43.5% of the game was played in Atlético’s defensive third. Arsenal dominated every statistic except the one at the top of the page.
A couple of Arsenal players have spoken. First, Alexandre Lacazette:
It was a great goal, a great cross, but it’s not enough. We wanted to win tonight, and we need a great result next week. It’s my job to score some goals but I can’t score without my team-mates. I’m happy, I feel good. It’s good for me. I really want to go in the final [which is being played in Lyon, where he was brought up]. Maybe the player who wants it the most.
And Danny Welbeck, who is not asked about his own contribution to Atletico’s equaliser:
It’s disappointing. To take the lead and then to concede a goal right near the end, yeah, we’re disappointed with that. We’ll do a bit of analysis. We’ve got to make sure it doesn’t happen again. We’ve got to be positive. We’ve got a platform and we can build on top of that. There were opportunities there for us to score. It gives us a little bit of positivity going into the second leg, knowing we can create chances against a very good side.
We know we can score against them. We did it tonight. We’re positive. We know we can create opportunities and hopefully put them in the back of the net.
Finally, he’s asked about whether Wenger’s departure adds extra motivation:
Going into a semi-final you don’t need any extra incentive. You want to get through to the final. We wanted to win before the manager announced he was leaving, and we want to win after as well. We’re professionals and that’s what we’re here to do.
Marseille won the other game 2-0, with former Premier League players scoring both goals, and another in Dimitri Payet creating them.
There is probably no team in world football that you’d less want to be play against when they’re down to 10 men than Atlético Madrid. And there can’t be many that you’d more want to play against when you’re down to 10 men than Arsenal.
Arsenal dominated possession, but only because Atlético allowed them to. Because of the quality of the defending, and the number of defenders, and Arsenal’s fondness for over-elaboration, and a fundamental lack of quality, the home side created very little. Meanwhile the visitors barely even tried to attack, and even then half-heartedly – but they still scored.
Arsenal have won more away matches in European competition (4 of 6) than they have in all domestic competitions this season (3 of 18).
— Orbinho (@Orbinho) April 26, 2018
Final score: Arsenal 1-1 Atlético Madrid
90+4 mins: The final whistle goes, and Wenger turns and heads straight down the tunnel.
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90+3 mins: It runs across goal to Xhaka, whose terrible shot loops high.
90+3 mins: Thirty seconds to play, and Arsenal have a corner.
90+2 mins: Özil crosses from the left, and Ramsey heads at goal again. This, though, is a much easier save for Oblak.
90+1 mins: And so to stoppage time, of which there will be three minutes or so.
89 mins: Everything about that goal was horrible for Arsenal. Koscielny had a chance to clear and hit the ball into his own face. Mustafi, trying to stop Griezmann knocking in the rebound, fell over. But Welbeck’s dive, that was the worst of it.
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88 mins: Lacazette, who has played well, crosses, and Welbeck, stretching, heads over.
87 mins: Oooh! A cross from the right, a fine header from Ramsey, and Oblak saves with his fingertips! “I know we’re not allowed to criticise the great man in his dotage, but this is the perfect summary of Wenger’s years in European competition,” writes David Hindle. “Pretty. At times ridiculously dominant. Utterly toothless. And out. Why would the script change in the end, after all?”
85 mins: “This could be the most Arsenal Arsenal performance of all time,” says Hugh Molloy, as Torres replaces Griezmann.
82 mins: The problem starts with Welbeck, who has the ball on the left, cuts inside and dives in search of a free kick. Arsenal’s defence isn’t ready for this loss of possession, and one easy pass over the top sets Griezmann sprinting behind them and into space. Koscielny’s challenge is weak, and the Frenchman takes the ball on, shoots into Ospina, collects the rebound and scores!
GOAL! Arsenal 1-1 Atlético Madrid (Griezmann, 82 mins)
Griezmann has scored, and Arsenal’s advantage is dust!
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81 mins: Atlético are readying a final change, and it’s going to be Fernando Torres.
79 mins: For the first time this half, Arsenal have a forward entirely unmarked inside the penalty area. He’s unmarked, though, because three defenders have converged on the man in possession, and Lacazette – for it is he – can’t find a way past them, leaving Welbeck frustrated.
77 mins: At home, against 10 men for all but the first 10 minutes, and barely having to defend or even tackle for the entire second half, Arsenal should be trying to win the tie. “Anything less than 3-0 has got to be seen as a failure here,” suggests Hugh Molloy.
75 mins: Another change for Atlético – Savic is on, and Correa is not.
74 mins: A lengthy Arsenal move ends with Xhaka blasting a shot high from 25 yards.
71 mins: Another corner is punched clear by Oblack. Arsenal swiftly work the ball back into the box, where Lacazette’s low shot is blocked.
69 mins: Now they win a corner. Lacazette, level with the near post, heads across goal and just wide of the far, which is totally unprotected.
69 mins: The Gunners are sniffing a second. Özil crosses from the right, Monreal heads back in from beyond the far post, and Giménez clears well.
67 mins: Oooh! Lacazette sends the ball low across goal from right to left, but nobody has anticipated it and it runs away for a throw-in.
66 mins: Meanwhile N’Jie has put Marseille two up against Red Bull Salzburg.
65 mins: Atlético’s first change sees Gabi replace Gameiro.
64 mins: Ozil turns nicely in the area and pulls the ball back, but a defender gets in the way.
GOAL! Arsenal 1-0 Atlético Madrid (Lacazette, 61 mins)
They’ve scored a goal! Inevitably, there’s a one-two in the build-up. It plays Wilshere into space on the left of the area but forces him wide. Still, he plays a lovely cross to the back post and Lacazette heads down and in!
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58 mins: From Welbeck’s left-wing cross the ball drops to Ramsey, four yards out. From that position you’d expect a goal nine times out of 10, but on this occasion the space between him and goal is entirely full of yellow shirts, so he doesn’t even shoot.
56 mins: Atlético are playing 4-4-1, and the one – Gameiro – is standing 10 yards outside his penalty area.
55 mins: Monreal’s low cross is kicked clear, he wins it back and then his high cross is headed clear. “Few teams can have a sustained spell of possession in the opposition penalty area and not look like scoring the way Arsenal can,” notes Dave Seare.
53 mins: Ramsey’s 20-yarder presents Oblak with an easy save. Arsenal don’t seem to have any particular plan to break down this defence, so will just keep on running to the edge of the area and then trying a one-two until one of them falls over.
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51 mins: Hernandez runs past Xhaka and goes down, and the two players put their heads together angrily afterwards. Hernandez was brushed by Xhaka’s hand, but then carried on for a few strides before flinging himself to the floor. The referee tells them both to grow up.
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48 mins: Good build-up play by Arsenal, but the move ends with Welbeck, stretching, massively overhitting his cross.
47 mins: In the other semi-final, by the way, Marseille lead 1-0. Thauvin scored after 15 minutes or so.
46 mins: Peeeeep! The second half is on.
The players are back out. More football incoming.
Half-time reading. Well, viewing:
Atlético, though, are fantastically organised. Welbeck, coming off the left, has come close a couple of times, but despite the numerical disadvantage the visitors have been fairly comfortable, and made one excellent chance of their own.
15 - Arsenal have had 15 shots (inc. blocks) against Atlético; their most in the first half of a game without scoring since December 2017 against Manchester United (also 15). Guarded. pic.twitter.com/Dl2RndmvP3
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) April 26, 2018
“As a referee (at much lower levels) Clement Turpin is my new hero,” writes Rick McGahey. “Players think they can get away with harsh fouls early in the match (as Sergio Ramos often does, and did yesterday) because refs won’t call them. But Turpin was spot on. If more refs had Turpin’s sense and courage, games would be better behaved.”
“I’m neither an Atletico nor Arsenal fan,” writes Chris Mac. “However, I can’t bear to see a red card so early in the game at this level of European football. Instead of watching an anticipated end-to-end wonderful game, I’m forced to watch 80 minutes of a one-sided boring game regardless of the result. Politics of football is ruining this once upon a time beautiful and fair sport. Somebody, somewhere is rooting for Wenger to finish on a high note. And they call me a conspiracy nut!” Yes, I wonder why they do that.
A guy who flew into two poor challenges was shown two yellow cards. The players have tried to make Clément Turpin’s life extremely difficult, and he’s made a succession of good decisions. He’s the man of the match so far.
Half time: Arsenal 0-0 Atlético Madrid
45+3 mins: Shots, saves, red cards, we’ve had it all. Except goals.
45+2 mins: Atlético take a full minute over a throw-in.
45+1 mins: Into stoppage time, of which there’ll be a couple of minutes. Arsenal win a corner, which ends up with Ramsey, beyond the far post, who chests down and volleys into a defender.
44 mins: Atlético continue to worry Arsenal. Gameiro passes to Correa on the left, and he shoots over the bar.
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43 mins: Arsenal tap the ball around the edge of the area for a while before giving it away. Then Xhaka nudges Griezmann in the thigh, and he flings himself to the turf and rolls around for a while. Oi, Griezmann, me no like.
42 mins: Lacazette has moved to the left, and Welbeck to the middle. This allowed Lacazette to take Ospina’s fine, long pass and then overhit his significantly simpler one to Welbeck.
40 mins: The free kick is pumped into the area, headed back across goal, and finally towards goal by Gameiro. Ospina’s save is fairly straightforward.
39 mins: Mustafi touches Griezmann’s shoulder, and Griezmann flings himself to the turf clutching his face. The referee gives a free-kick, but keeps his cards in his pocket.
37 mins: What a save by Ospina! And what a chance for Atlético! Partey took the ball in midfield, ran into the area – via a lucky rebound or two – and nudged to Griezmann, who blasted at goal, but it was pushed away!
36 mins: The number of Arsenal fans currently emailing to say something along the lines of, “This has 0-1 written all over it” is a little surprising. Where’s your hopeless optimism? Could happen, mind.
34 mins: The ball has burst.
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33 mins: Atlético have a shot! Griezmann takes it, from the edge of the area, but it’s a straightforward save for Ospina.
32 mins: Now for a game of spot the Labour leader. He’s wisely eschewing the hand gestures.
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31 mins: Another chance! Ramsey’s cross is flicked on by Lacazette, and Monreal lashes a volley across goal and, with Oblak beaten, wide!
28 mins: Ramsey flies in to win the ball just ahead of Correa, who goes over his leg and rolls around for a while. The referee tells him to get up, another good decision.
27 mins: Lacazette tricks himself into space in the penalty area, but strangely Arsenal have nobody in the penalty area except Wilshere, who doesn’t seem keen to contest a header against Godin, and the move peters out.
27 mins: “That second yellow was harsh,” writes Duderonomy. “Waiting for the ref to celebrate an Arsenal goal by ripping off his shirt to reveal a white-tee emblazoned with ‘WENGER IN’.” I think the first yellow was slightly harsh, but the second was obvious.
25 mins: Özil’s curler from 20 yards or so floats harmlessly wide.
23 mins: Lacazette has the ball in the penalty area. Godin is at his back. Lacazette dances around for a while and then dives over Godin’s foot. The striker was looking for that, created what contact there was, and could have been booked for simulation.
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22 mins: And another chance! The corner is flicked on and flies to Koscielny, beyond the far post, who volleys wildly wide.
21 mins: Save! Welbeck plays a one-two with Wilshere and runs into space to the left of goal, but his attempt to curl across goal is too close to Oblak.
19 mins: And another chance for Arsenal! They make about half a dozen final passes there, only for each player to decide the move deserves another final pass. Eventually it’s chipped across the area to Wilshere, whose header is weak.
18 mins: Chance for Arsenal! A long spell of possession ends with Atletico winning a header, but then they give the ball to Welbeck just outside the area, he flicks it on to Ramsey, and Godin blocks his shot.
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16 mins: Lacazette wins another header in front of goal, from a left-wing cross, but he can’t control it, and the ball flies over.
15 mins: Incidentally, does anyone else think Simeone is looking increasingly like an original member of De La Soul?
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Diego Simeone has been sent off!
13 mins: Atlético win a free kick just in front of the manager’s dugout, and Simeone goes wild, demanding a yellow card for Bellerin. The referee is having none of it – rightly, it was a pretty weak challenge – and tells Simeone to take his whingeing elsewhere.
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12 mins: That, we’re told, is the fifth-quickest red card in Europa League history, though I’d be surprised if anyone’s been shown two yellow cards any faster.
11 mins: The referee didn’t really have a choice there. Vrsaljko was only fractionally late, and in fact got a very slight touch on the ball after Lacazette got a toe to it, but he then got a very heavy touch on Lacazette’s ankle, with his studs.
Red card! Atlético are down to 10 men!
10 mins: Vrsaljko arrives late for another 50/50 challenge, on Lacazette this time, and he’s shown a second yellow card!
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9 mins: Welbeck cuts in from the left and from just outside the area shoots low but pretty feebly, and Oblak saves again.
7 mins: Now Oblak is forced into a difficult save, as Lacazette gets his head to Monreal’s cross. He makes the save with some ease, as Oblak often does.
6 mins: Chance for Arsenal! Welbeck has the ball on the left, and he runs with his head up, spots Lacazette totally unmarked, chips the ball across to him, and the Frenchman shoots wide! It didn’t miss by much, mind, and might have clipped the post.
5 mins: Bellerin’s sends a tasty cross towards the back post, but it’s headed clear by Vrsaljko, with Welbeck looking on keenly (as opposed to actually challenging for it).
3 mins: Bellerin wins an early corner, but it’s headed clear. Still, a good start for the home side.
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2 mins: The referee has already got his card out! Welbeck wins a loose ball ahead of Vrsaljko, and it runs away from both of them and becomes loose again. Vrsaljko gets up and hares off in search of it, but Wilshere gets there first this time, the defender trips him, and he’s booked.
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1 min: Peeeeeep! Arsenal get the game started.
The preambles have been completed. It’s football time.
The players are out, and busy shaking hands.
“I think that’s Captain Haddock standing in for Diego Costa,” says William Hargreaves. The beard makes him look like pretty much anyone who has had a black beard.
The players are in the tunnel. The fans are waving their flags.
“There’s various reports of Santi Cazorla at the ground in some sort of capacity other than long-term injured,” writes Charles Antaki. “If true, and I’ll take true to include merely wearing a tracksuit and looking happy, that will up the emotional quotient by about 50%.”
It’s true! He was training on the pitch a little earlier. All of his limbs appeared to be working:
Home fans have been issued with red or silver flags. Silver isn’t traditionally one of Arsenal’s key colours, but the supporters look in the mood to wave.
“Is it my imagination, or does Diego look a little tubby in that photo?” wonders Ric Arthur. I fear the beard does not flatter him.
OK Diego, would you like to share the joke with the rest of class?
Arsène Wenger has spoken! First, about how his week has been:
For me personally, very busy. But I try to keep the priorities right. I live for competition and comp is winning games. Just to focus on your job and try to do as well as you can as long as you’re here. The fans will be behind the team, I don’t worry about that. Overall our home season has been very strong. If you look at our results at home, they’ve been outstanding. So let’s just continue that in Europe as well.
He’s right about their home record: it’s the second best in England, and they have only two points fewer than Manchester City (having played a game more). They are currently 12th in the Premier League away table. Next he’s asked about the decision to start with Ospina in goal, rather than Cech:
Every decision is tough. I believe that Petr Cech just comes back from injury, I don’t feel he’s completely recovered from it. He takes a lot on his chin because he suffers still a little bit. He’s available, but I think Ospina has played the whole competition and has done really well recently. It’s a difficult decision.
Are they relying on Ramsey and Lacazette to score?
Ideally, honestly, I don’t mind who scores as long as we score. The target is just to score and not to concede, because the weight of the away goal is huge. You want everybody to contribute, to defend well, not our strongest point this season. We have to use our strengths and maybe everybody to push harder, to do work they don’t normally like to do.
And finally, a word on tonight’s opponents:
Look, they are the second team in Spain, they are above Real Madrid. What we need to do is stop their counter-attacking, keep Griezmann quiet because he’s a very dangerous player, and cope with the challenge the give us. I think in the Europa League the physical challenge is greater than the Champions League, and we play a team who can run.
“I was hoping it would be a case of no Koke, no Partey,” notes Duderonomy on Twitter. “At least Costa is on the bench.” For all Gameiro’s qualities, I’m sure nobody at Arsenal will be unhappy to see Costa still in his tracksuit at kick-off.
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“The job is too big for former players,” says Jackie Pike. “Luis Enrique will try the Tiki Taka for a few years, then he will be sacked. The best replacement is Rafa Benitez: not only does he deserve Best Manager of the Season, for what he has accomplished with NUFC, but he will get Arsenal back on track as a title contender, and very likely as a Champions League power. Come on, Rafa! Please come to Arsenal.” He’d be an excellent appointment, I think, but Wenger himself is keen on the idea to appoint an ex-player:
The need is to make the right decision, even if you have to be bold. Is it former people that worked here? That is even better. But there are many players who had qualities. Some of them are in the job. I don’t influence that choice but I will stand behind the decision.
Good omen dept: Mesut Ozil likes playing Atlético. Also, this is the first time Arsène Wenger has led his team into a competitive match against Atlético, who become the 125th different team to play his Arsenal side. He has avoided defeat in his first game against 114 of the previous 124.
7 - @MesutOzil1088 (@Arsenal) has won 7 of his previous 8 games against #Atletico Madrid in all competitions, the most wins he has managed against a specific opponent (also 7 wins against Everton). Favourite. #AFCvATL pic.twitter.com/SYswhRbQ7z
— OptaFranz (@OptaFranz) April 26, 2018
Weatherwatch: We’ve had all sorts in London today – rain, hail, sun, the works. More rain is forecast overnight. Right now, though, skies are a spectacular shade of blue.
So Diego Costa, declared fit by Diego Simeone yesterday, must make do with a place on the bench.
The teams!
The team sheets are in!
Arsenal: Ospina; Bellerin, Mustafi, Koscielny, Monreal; Ramsey, Xhaka, Wilshere; Welbeck, Özil; Lacazette. Subs from: Cech, Holding, Iwobi, Chambers, Maitland-Niles, Kolasinac, Nketiah.
Atlético Madrid: Oblak; Vrsaljko, Gimenez, Godin, Lucas; Correa, Saúl Niguez, Partey, Koke; Gameiro, Griezmann. Subs from: Werner, Torres, Gabi, Savic, Diego Costa, Vitolo, Olabe.
Referee: Clément Turpin (France).
Here it is - our team for #AFCvATL pic.twitter.com/ok796dnSGH
— Arsenal FC (@Arsenal) April 26, 2018
🏧👥 | STARTING LINE-UP
— Atlético de Madrid (@atletienglish) April 26, 2018
Check out who’s going to start in tonight’s @EuropaLeague semi-final against @Arsenal!🔥#ArsenalAtleti #AúpaAtleti #UEL pic.twitter.com/eH2onqX7YS
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Hello world!
Twenty-two years, and it comes down to this. Arsène Wenger’s long stint as Arsenal manager will end in glory if it concludes with victory in a major European success, or it will end disappointingly if they remain trophy-free. With the other semi-final featuring Marseille, fourth in Ligue 1, and the Austrian league leaders Red Bull Salzburg, whoever comes through this tie will head to Lyon for the final as strong favourites, and Wenger admits it will be an “anti-climax” if it is not them.
“I just want to do as well as I can because this team has quality,” Wenger said. “These guys – I’ve seen them this season be challenged mentally. I’ve always seen them respond in a positive way and I think this group of players deserves something special. I want to do it for them, to achieve something with them because I feel they have a special mental quality.”
A special mental quality, you say, hmmm?
Diego Simeone, who having been appointed by Atlético six and a half years ago is already a third of the way to having been in his job for still quite a bit less than Wenger has, spoke pre-match of his admiration for the French tactician. “I see myself as quite a young coach still,” he said. “I want to observe and learn from him and the best word is admiration when you look at the career Wenger has had. We are both coaches and it is very difficult to stay at this level as you’re always competing and putting yourself on the line.”
It’s a big game, then. Not just a season, but a reputation is on the line. Let’s enjoy it together. Illuminating pre-match pointer dept: Arsenal and Atlético have only ever met in the Emirates Cup, the Gunners’ annual pre-season shindig which doesn’t really count. Arsenal won 2-1.
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