Atletico Madrid 1-0 Arsenal (Agg: 2-1): 5 Talking Points

Atletico Madrid v Arsenal FC  - UEFA Europa League Semi Final Second Leg
Atletico Madrid are through to the final in Kiev.

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

Atletico Madrid v Arsenal FC  - UEFA Europa League Semi Final Second Leg
Shocking defending!

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.

#4 Nacho Monreal had his worst night in an Arsenal shirt in some time

Atletico Madrid v Arsenal FC  - UEFA Europa League Semi Final Second Leg
Monreal was ineffective in both aspects of the game.

The Spanish full-back has been one of the few bright spots for Arsenal Football Club this season. He has been extremely consistent in his performances in the past three seasons or so and has slowly become one of their best players. There is an argument to be made that Nacho might be Arsenal's player of the season.

Didn't seem like it on the night though, as he failed to assuredly deal with either the runners in behind him or the crosses whipped in from the other flank. Arsenal were lucky to not concede another or two considering all the strikers, both starting and coming off the bench, had decent chances to make the margin of victory more comfortable.

Even offensively, Nacho looked far from the rampaging full-back he has been this season, scoring 5 goals and also assisting two. His crossing has been drastically better lately. On the night though it left a lot to be desired. The former La Liga man had the chance to put a telling ball across the 6-yard box but failed to do so on numerous occasions.

All in all, a forgettable night for the Arsenal full-back.

#3 Koscielny was stretchered off the pitch early on in the game

Kosci
The Frenchman is likely to be out for sometime.

Just 8 minutes on the clock and Laurent Koscielny went down clutching his right ankle under little pressure from Diego Costa. The look on Antoine Griezmann's face was enough to ascertain the grievous nature of the injury to the Arsenal captain.

The Frenchman is crucial to his national side's chances at the World Cup in Russia and it came as no surprise that the Atletico striker was distraught to see his compatriot in real pain.

A terrible campaign for the centre-back, who is a favourite with the faithful, seems to have taken an even grimmer turn as he left the pitch on a stretcher and appeared to be in agony. A diagnosis confirmed that he has ruptured his Achilles, an injury which has similarly disrupted Santi Cazorla's career at the club.

We can only hope that the Arsenal captain comes back stronger in the days, weeks and months to come..

#2 Diego Costa shows Chelsea what they've been missing all season

Atletico Madrid v Arsenal FC  - UEFA Europa League Semi Final Second Leg
Costa was exceptional on the night.

The build up before the game was all about one man and one man only. Diego Costa. The former Chelsea man has been at the heart of all the talk before the game with both managers singling out the Spanish forward as the most dangerous threat.

Diego Simeone had warned Arsenal that the Brazilian born goal-scorer is gunning for them ahead of the second leg. Similarly, Arsene Wenger had cautioned his team against the attacker looking back at the success he has had against his side.

On the night, Costa showed just why he is, still, one of the most lethal strikers in the world. He was at his bullying best as he manhandled the Arsenal back-line with ease and with pleasure, and also scored a goal and created multiple chances for his partner upfront.

Chelsea were League Champions last year and they're struggling to qualify for a Champions League spot at the moment. Anyone notice why?

#1 No grand send off for Arsene Wenger

Atletico Madrid v Arsenal FC  - UEFA Europa League Semi Final Second Leg
Arsene Wenger

Following the announcement that he would step down at the end of the season, all hearts and minds associated with the club came together to want to win Arsenal's first European title under Arsene Wenger.

Ten minutes into the tie and it seems like Lady Luck was finally smiling on the longest-serving manager in the Premier League. Ten minutes before the end of the first leg, and those hopes all but faded away. Arsenal failed Arsene Wenger.

Football can be a cruel sport. it never let's you have it all your way. No one leaves unscathed. And no one knows that better than the man who has revolutionised our game and always wanted to play it the right way; the beautiful way.

Wenger will not get the fairy tale ending he so richly deserved and the players have to take a major chunk of the blame for that not happening. What is in-store now for Arsenal Football Club?

Quick Links

Edited by Zeeshan Ali