Arsene Wenger bemoans ‘a story we have seen before’ as Arsenal concede late goal to Atletico Madrid

Wenger said his side could ‘only look at ourselves’ after a frustrating game

Miguel Delaney
Emirates Stadium
Thursday 26 April 2018 23:16 BST
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Arsene Wenger's side conceded a late goal
Arsene Wenger's side conceded a late goal

Arsene Wenger said Arsenal produced the performance he wanted, but suffered a “story we’ve seen before”, as his team succumbed to a late Antoine Griezmann away goal to draw 1-1 with 10-man Atletico Madrid in the Europa League semi-final first leg.

That creates a huge task in the return fixture for what might be the French great’s last ever continental game with the club, as they must now score against a defence that hasn’t conceded at home since January. Wenger nevertheless feels such trends do not have as much relevance in these games, because of their “special” nature.

He did say that his side could “only look at ourselves” after a hugely frustrating game, where they had 28 shots on goal and could have secured a place in the final in Lyon on the night.

“I feel we produced the performance we wanted to produce,” Wenger said. “But the result is not in line with the performance”

“Once we were 1-0 up, the task was clear for us: not to be caught on the long ball. Because they could not combine enough to create a chance.”

“We can only look at ourselves on tonight’s result. 1-0 is a perfect result at home. It was down to us just not to make a mistake.”

“It’s a story we have seen before.”

Griezmann scored a potentially decisive away goal

Asked about the challenge of now having to score against this Atletico defence, Wenger said: “It’s a special game. For us the task is clear. Of course, you come out tonight with a bitter taste because we had the chances to be in the final tonight. That’s where the regret is and we were not clinical enough. Unfortunately we gave a goal away, which puts us in a very difficult position.

“We need to rebuild the desire and confidence to go there and qualify.

“The only advantage of that result is we know exactly what we have to do over there... We have nothing to lose. We have to go there and win the game.”

The goal came after Laurent Koscielny struggled with a long ball, allowing Griezmann to slip in behind to score. Wenger said he hadn’t yet spoken to his captain, but there would be no criticism.

Koscielny was to blame for Atletico's late goal

“It’s not about blaming individuals. The whole team is very disappointed.

“We had the chances in the first half. Once they went down to 10 men it destroyed a bit the flow of the game and it was not to our advantage.”

“We had not to force it. We were 1-0 up. The second goal could have come even in the last five minutes. We had to stay 1-0 up and after that anything can happen.”

Wenger meanwhile praised Atletico keeper Jan Oblak as “one of the best keepers in Europe.”

He also gave special mention to the support, who created such a raucous atmosphere on his last European home game at the Emirates.

“I must say our fans were fantastic. That’s what you want. But overall, yes, we created the anti-climax by giving a goal away.”

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