GUNNERS MISFIRE AS COSTA SEALS IT
ATL MADRID ........... 1 ARSENAL .............. 0 AGG:2-1
ARSENE WENGER’S bid to leave Arsenal in Europa League glory was wrecked by ruthless Diego Costa.
The ex-Chelsea striker netted on the stroke of half-time on a nightmare evening for the Gunners to seal Atletico Madrid’s place in the Final.
French defender Laurent Koscielny was also ruled out of the World Cup after tearing his Achilles.
It means Wenger will end his 22-year reign at Arsenal without a trophy this season and without Champions League football next term, with the London men set to finish outside the top four.
Koscielny ironically had Costa to thank for his quick response to the ninth-minute horror injury.
When he went down in agony, clutching the back of his right ankle, Costa ordered his team-mates to get the ball out of play so he could be treated.
Wenger looked a tortured soul as he will play out his final days as Arsenal boss with all hope gone and just fanfares and an empty parade.
The Frenchman said: “We can be very frustrated over the two games. The tie should have been over in the first game and the first half tonight was very frustrating – we missed chances but we were also unlucky a few times.
“Congratulations to Atletico and I think they’ll win the competition.”
It was always going to be about whether Arsenal could keep it tight at the back and keep a clean sheet.
Losing their captain Koscielny after just 11 minutes was just about the worst possible start, with Calum Chambers sent on and Arsenal’s best-laid plans up in the air.
As good as the Gunners were going forward, they looked vulnerable at the back as Shkodran Mustafi struggled, Nacho Monreal was unconvincing and Hector Bellerin’s lapse in concentration cost them dear.
Jack Wilshere was Arsenal’s chief architect, he put Alexandre Lacazette in only for bad touches to let them down.
The Gunners were undone in first-half injury time when Antoine Griezmann’s pass laid in Costa, Bellerin had switched off and the striker raced clear, took one touch and fired past David Ospina.
Arsenal’s only shot on target was from Granit Xhaka after 62 minutes and, for all of their possession and pressure, they did not create enough.
Griezmann said: “We’re really happy, I hope it’s a happy ending in the Final.”
Atleti will now meet Marseille in Lyon on May 16 after the French side saw off Red Bull Salzburg 3-2 on aggregate after extra time.
The Austrians were trailing 2-0 from the first leg but Amadou Haidara’s strike and a Bouna Sarr own goal levelled it and took it to an added 30 minutes.
But Jorge Rolando broke Salzburg hearts in the 116th minute when he netted from a Dimitri Payet corner.
Red Bull’s Amadou Haidara was then sent off after picking up a second yellow.