No glorious send-off for Arsene Wenger as Arsenal undone by Atletico Madrid
Friday 4 May 2018 10:06, UK
Arsenal were undone by the same old failings as they suffered a 2-1 aggregate defeat to Atletico Madrid in the Europa League semi-final, ending Arsene Wenger's chances of a glorious send-off.
Arsenal struggled to create clear openings against Atletico's well-drilled defence after that, slumping to a defeat which bore all the unwanted hallmarks of Wenger's latter years in charge.
Defensive errors
Lessons were not learnt from the first leg, when they were undone by a routine long ball for Griezmann's equaliser, as another hopeful punt upfield allowed Costa to break the deadlock. Calum Chambers won the initial header, but Arsenal's defensive shape was a mess when it fell to Griezmann, with Hector Bellerin inexplicably failing to track Costa.
The timing could hardly have been worse. Arsenal had matched Atletico for most of the first half, limiting their opportunities and creating openings of their own, but just when they needed to show some steel and see it through to the break, their concertation deserted them and Atletico took advantage. It was a sucker-punch from which they were unable to recover.
Ospina decision backfires
It was in keeping with his selection policy throughout Arsenal's Europa League campaign - and it should be pointed out that Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho did the same with Sergio Romero and David de Gea last season - but it was still a head-scratching decision on such a huge night for the club.
Ospina looked uneasy from the start, setting the tone for the evening when he needlessly punched a cross inside the first two minutes, and his distribution was erratic throughout. The Colombian only completed 50 per cent of his passes over the course of the 90 minutes, making poor decisions on the ball when Arsenal needed a cool head to begin their build-up play.
Ospina was fortunate not to concede in the sixth minute when he went to ground far too early at the feet of Costa, who blazed his shot wide, but the striker punished him when he repeated his error for the goal just before the break. Ospina seemed to make himself smaller rather than bigger. It was difficult to imagine Cech making the same mistake.
Composure lacking
Their best openings were wasted. Alexandre Lacazette let his touch run away from him when he was put through on goal midway through the first half, and Nacho Monreal displayed the same lack of composure in a similar situation soon afterwards.
Arsenal's struggles continued in the second half. Atletico seemed happy to allow Arsenal to have the ball in wide areas, instead packing the centre of the pitch, and it was easy to see why. Crosses were repeatedly cut out or over-hit, and on the rare occasions that the ball did arrive in the six-yard box - there was nobody there to meet it.
"We missed something in the final third, because we had plenty of opportunities," said Wenger. "You look at the chances we created in the two games, and the least you can say is that we can be very frustrated."
No glorious send-off for Wenger
Indeed, it is on the European stage that their shortcomings have been exposed most brutally. Wenger's side cannot claim to have beaten a truly elite European team over two legs since their last-16 win over then Champions League holders AC Milan way back in 2007/08. It is results such as these which show why it is the right time for Wenger to step aside.
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