WENGER DESPAIR
Griezmann snatches away goal as 10-man Atletico defy Wenger’s men
ARSENAL were stunned by a sucker punch from 10-man Atletico Madrid last night as Antoine Griezmann’s late goal made it 1-1 and gave the Spaniards the upper hand in their Europa League semi-final. The Gunners’ only first-leg goal came from Alexandre Lacazette and boss Arsene Wenger said: ‘Looking at the performance, it was the worst possible result.’
Diego Simeone doesn’t look like a man who does fairytale endings. neither does his burly assistant, german Burgos. And the team he has fashioned in madrid is very much stripped of frivolity and cheer, too.
Arsene Wenger really could not have picked worse opponents for his final tilt at a trophy with Arsenal. A man down after 10 minutes, a manager down after 13, and a goal down after 61, Atletico madrid still refused to surrender.
Their equaliser with eight minutes left leaves Arsenal with a mountainous road to the final in Lyon. They have to score in the return, they have to keep a clean sheet: and one seems considerably more likely than the other.
if Arsenal possessed half of Atletico’s defensive resilience this would have been a different occasion. even before the equaliser there was always the fear Arsenal might not be able to defend such a slender lead next Thursday — but Antoine griezmann’s goal acted as unofficial confirmation. madrid had barely been able to get out of their half for much of the game. Yet when they did, they scored.
What a soft, soft goal it was, too. Danny Welbeck lost possession and a long ball from Jose maria gimenez was pumped up for griezmann to chase. it was the first real defensive work for Laurent Koscielny all half, and he messed up. He allowed griezmann to get away slightly, then kicked a panicked clearance into his own face. David ospina saved but the ball went loose. Shkodran mustafi, covering, slipped over, griezmann scored. it was a brilliant outcome for Atletico, desperate for Arsenal.
Frankly, there will never have been a better chance to put Atletico away. Down to 10 men when full back Sime Vrsaljko was sent-off, Simeone banished to the stand soon after, Diego Costa on the bench, not fit enough to be involved — Arsenal could not have asked for better circumstances than this. it was as if football’s celestial writing room had got together to cast the perfect end narrative for a favourite character. Wenger was going to ride off into the sunset with a european trophy at last. And, yes, Arsenal ran with that storyline for a while — but not as eagerly as they should. They scored through a header from Alexandre Lacazette ( below) but the away goal looks to have killed them. if the pesky Costa is back, in front of a raucous home crowd, knowing even a goalless draw will do, it is hard to imagine Arsenal will hold. And yes, madrid were favourites here — but with 10 men for 80 minutes, and a charismatic manager in exile high in the stands? This was a huge opportunity lost for Arsenal. Had Wel - beck got the merest touch on a Lacazette pass across the face of goal after 67 minutes, or Aaron Ramsey scored with a late header, this could have been close to perwhen fect. instead Lacazatte’s header from a Jack Wilshere cross after 60 minutes will have to do. it was a well taken goal, with a fine hang time, impressive even by nBA standards, but it doesn’t seem enough. grim thoughts have replaced fairytale fantasies.
There is a peculiar form of frustration in struggling to break down 10 men and the tension was only too evident here once the initial happy surprise had subsided.
For the rest of the game, madrid protested that first offences were not dealt with as harshly again by referee Clement Turpin. They had a point. if Vrsaljko’s initial booking for a foul on Jack Wilshere looked justified, his second for a challenge on Lacazette seemed more unfortunate, catching his opponent through bad timing rather than malevolence. it didn’t seem like two bookings, maybe one-and-a-half.
Simeone was furious, waving his arms as if demanding a recount. From there, he was an accident waiting to happen. When he considered Hector Bellerin had been treated leniently for a foul, his anger took him on to the pitch. Turpin sent him to the stands. He stood at the back of the directors’ box in front of two white doors, like an agitated security detail. one almost expected him to start checking accreditation at halftime. Few in the queue would have fancied their chances of getting in.
The effect though was to heighten the expectation among the home fans, and their irritation when Arsenal continued to tap dance around the fringes of the penalty area, lacking the clarity to put Atletico away. They had already gone close after seven minutes when a Welbeck cross was taken on the volley by Lacazette, smashed into the turf, rearing up to clip the outside of the near post. A minute later, a cross from nacho monreal was met by Lacazette again, whose header was thwarted by Jan oblak, undoubtedly one of the finest goalkeepers in europe.
After 30 minutes, Arsenal had recorded over 70 per cent possession and the Atletico goal was under siege. Welbeck and Wilshere played a lovely one-two before oblak saved at the feet of the striker. The pair combined again Welbeck delivered a neat cross which deserved better than Wilshere’s tame headed finish. Ramsey then had a cross flicked across goal by Lacazette and falling to monreal whose first time shot travelled wide.
All the while madrid were using every break in play, every Arsenal infringement, to surround Turpin demanding bookings and worse, each interruption an excuse to remove more time from the game.
in the background, Simeone’s assistant Burgos, was a one-man protest movement, citing every decision he saw as inconsistent with the earlier flurry of cards.
Burgos is a large man and drew the attention of the locals whose abuse he chose to ignore, save for a look of contempt that would not have been out of place in a spaghetti western, on the face of a outlaw chewing a cigar. With Sime- one banned, he will be in position for the return, too.
Arsenal, and Wenger, should not expect any sympathy, or favours. ARSENAL (4-3-2-1): Ospina 6.5; Bellerin 7.5, Mustafi 6.5, Koscielny 6.5, Monreal 7.5; Ramsey 7, Xhaka 7.5, Wilshere 8.5; Ozil 7.5, Welbeck 7; Lacazette 8.
Subs not used: Cech, Holding, Iwobi, Chambers, Maitland-Niles, Kolasinac, Nketiah. Scorer: Lacazette 61. Booked: None.
Manager: Arsene Wenger 8. ATLETICO MADRID (4-4-2): Oblak 8; Vrsaljko 3, Gimenez 8, GODIN 9, Hernandez 6.5; Correa 7 (Savic 75, 6), Saul 7.5, Partey 7.5, Koke 7; Gameiro 6.5 (Gabi 65, 6), Griezmann 7.5 (Torres 85).
Subs not used: Werner, Costa, Vitolo, Olabe. Scorer: Griezmann 82. Booked: Vrsaljko. Sent off: Vrsaljko.
Manager: Diego Simeone 6. Referee: Clement Turpin (F) 7.
Attendance: 59,066.