Adieu Europe / No final farewell for Wenger
● Former Chelsea forward breaks Arsenal hearts as Atletico reach Europa League final
Arsenal’ s hopes of winning one last trophy under departing manager Arsene Wenger ended with a 1-0 loss to At le ti co Madrid in the Europa League semi- finals last night, writes Tales Azzoni.
The second-leg result, after a 1- 1 draw at The Emir- ates, also means Arsenal will not qualify for the Champions League for the second season in a row.
Atletico went through 2- 1 on aggregate thanks to a goal by former Chelsea striker Diego Costa in first- half injury time. They will play Marseille in the final at the Group am a Stadium in Lyon on Wednesday 16 May.
Last night Salzburg fought back from a two- goal deficit from the first leg in France to win 2- 0 and force extra time but Marseille scored with five minutes left to go through.
Diego Costa ensured Arsene Wenger’ s 22- year reign as Arsenal manager will end in Huddersfield and not Lyon as the former Chelsea man hit the winner for Atletico Madrid in a closely-fought Europa League semi- final.
Wenger announced last month that he will step down at the end of the season, a campaign now set to end in bitter disappointment and with no silver ware following a 1-0 defeat at t he Wanda Metro - politano.
The Gunners lost captain Laurent Koscielny, pictured, early on, reportedly with a torn Achilles, and the visitors’ night got worse on the stroke of half- time when Costa notched the goal that secured a 2- 1 aggregate win for Diego Simeone’s side.
Costa was an unused substitute in London as he recovered from injury, but he more than anyone has exposed the weak under belly of the Arsenal defence which has undermined Wenger’ s final years at the Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal are likely to finish sixth in the Premier League – their lowest under Wenger – and the new manager will inherit a side not in the Champions League.
This competition offered the chance of a final trophy for the 68- year- old, who took charge of his 250th European game, but it will be Europa League football for Wenger’s replace - ment, with the outgoing boss now set to say his goodbye after the final league game of the season at Huddersfield’s John Smith’s Stadium.
Early nerves showed for the visitors as David Ospina and Shkodran Mustafi bundled into one another to win an uncontested cross.
Costa, so often a thorn in the side of Arsenal during his time at Stamford Bridge, knew just how to rile the defence, bullying his way through the back line before firing wide.
Arsenal’ sr ear guard suffered a blow inside the opening eight minutes as Koscielny was carried off on a stretcher, clearly in agony having gone down off the ball clutching his ankle and thumping the turf.
Wenger’s side enjoyed plenty of the ball but could not muster a shot on goal in the first half, Alex andre Lac az et te’ s heavy touch taking him away from goal after a slide- rule pass by Aaron Ramsey got him in behind.
The hosts appeared content to allow Arsenal the lion’s share of the ball and looked to hit on the counter- attack, with Koke and Antoine Griezmann both firing wide as the first half wore on.
Madrid were ahead in firsthalf stop page time, Griezmann sliding a pass into the run of Costa, who left Hector Bell erin in his wake before converting past Ospina.
R am sey almost found a route through to Jan Oblak’s goal but could only send a weak effort wide having been fortunate to collect a fluffed Jack Wilshere strike.
Costa was still causing trouble at the other end, all too easily bustling past two challenges before being shut down as he looked to shoot. Oblak was finally forced into a meaningful save as he tipped Granit Xhaka’s low drive behind, with Mustafi heading the resulting corner over the bar.
Wenger introduced Henrikh Mkhitaryan for Wilshere and them an who scored in the final for Manchester United last season was soon in the t hick of the action as he thrashed a shot inches over.
Costa hobbled off with eight minutes remaining to be replaced by Fernando Torres, who drew a smart save out of Ospina late on. Arsenal piled forward but Atletico kept their defensive discipline, which has now helped them go 12 home games without conceding, to clinch their place in the 16 May final.