Atletico Madrid 1-0 Arsenal (Agg: 2-1): 5 Talking Points
SCORERS: Atletico Madrid - Diego Costa 48'
Atletico Madrid got the job done in the second leg of the semi-finals of the Europa League at the Wanda Metropolitano. Atletico did incredibly well to come away with an away goal from the first leg at the Emirates, despite being down to ten men for the majority of the game.
Arsenal failed to make their numerical advantage count and leaked a goal at home following some horrendous defending from their captain Laurent Koscielny. There was more of that shoddy defending on display in Madrid as the Gunners conceded another avoidable goal initiated from a clearance by the Atleti keeper Jan Oblak.
Arsenal failed to break down the opposition in order to get that imperative away goal which ended their hopes of any solace in a dismal campaign. Here are the Talking Points from the game:
#5 Arsenal need to address their defensive woes
The first thing on the to-do list for anyone who comes into the job, soon to be vacated by Arsene Wenger, undoubtedly has to be addressing their defensive frailties. Arsenal have become a team which lacks defensive cohesiveness and purpose. The back-line seems out of it's depth anytime it is asked to do it's job.
The worst season, defensively, under the manager before the night got off wasn't helped by their work on the night. Skhodran Mustafi didn't do himself any favours by heading a long punt forward by a keeper under pressure, from Lacazette, all the way on the other side of the pitch straight to a man in the red and white of Atletico and seconds later Costa was bullying a hapless Hector Bellerin inside the box before lifting the ball over Ospina with this weaker left foot.