COSTA WAVES MAGIC WANDA
Diego casts a spell on Gunners and kills off Wenger’s final dream
Costa 45 YOU would have to be very cold-hearted not to feel sympathy for Arsene Wenger that it ended like this.
The final chance of a glorious farewell destroyed by Arsenal’s greatest nemesis on a night of familiar European frustration.
Diego Costa played their pantomime villain at the brandnew Wanda Metropolitano stadium as he scored the winner to ruin Wenger’s dream of a fairytale ending after 22 years in charge.
Costa’s fourth goal in seven games against Arsenal and no wonder Atletico rushed the former Chelsea striker back from injury because he knows exactly where Wenger’s weak spots are.
Arsenal at least played some good football but typically they managed one shot on target all night as it ended in glorious failure as they were undone by defensive frailties.
Poor Wenger paced the technical area in frustration, unable to breathe new life into his players for one last shot at glory.
But instead the Frenchman will go out with a whimper rather than a bang as they were unable to summon up a Madrid miracle for their departing manager.
Wenger looked a tortured soul as he will play out his final days as Arsenal boss with all hope gone and it in danger of just fanfares and an empty parade in the last legs of the farewell tour.
It was always going to be about whether Arsenal could keep it tight at the back and earn a clean sheet.
So losing their captain Laurent Koscielny after 11 minutes was just about the worst possible start.
Koscielny, who has been nursing an Achilles injury for more than a year, was on his own when he turned and fell in agony, punching the pitch in distress as Arsenal’s medics raced on to help.
The France defender was stretchered off, Calum Chambers was sent on and suddenly Arsenal’s best-laid plans were ripped up.
The blow was huge as Arsenal lack leaders defensively and losing their most experienced centre-half had a clear effect on their organisation.
As good as the visitors looked going forward at times, they