ARSENAS...1 ATL MADRID...1
ANTOINE GRIEZMANN left Arsene Wenger’s hopes of one last Arsenal trophy on a knife edge last night.
The Atletico Madrid striker – widely tipped for a summer move to Barcelona – struck a precious away goal in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final.
It was his first-ever goal in England, and it put Atletico in pole position to make next month’s final as the Gunners failed to make home advantage count against 10 men.
It seemed as if Alexandre Lacazette would be head man as he gave Arsenal hope of a return to his beloved Lyon for the final on May 16.
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger admitted when he signed Lacazette in the summer it was a struggle luring him away from the place of his birth.
And the hitman ended Arsenal’s search for a goal against Atletico with a precious goal.
In the 61st minute the £46.5m striker – who had spurned a great early chance – soared high to glance home a header to the left of keeper Jan Oblak after Jack Wilshere had stood up a superb cross from the left.
In just the sixth minute the No.9 had passed up on a great opportunity to give the Gunners a superb start. Unmarked, he volleyed Danny Welbeck’s inviting cross into the ground and wide of the near post.
It was the start of a frustrating time for Wenger and his men, who found it tough to break down the Spanish aces – even after they went down to 10 men in the 10th minute and then had their boss, Diego Simeone, banished to the stands two minutes later.
Just over a minute had gone when Sime Vrsaljko was booked, miscontrolling then cynically chopping down Wilshere.
After Lacazette produced a glancing header from a Nacho Monreal cross, which keeper Oblak pawed away with his left hand, the Croatian was in trouble again.
Vrsaljko picked up his second caution for a late challenge on Lacazette.