Arsenal Vs Atletico Madrid: 5 things we learned – Brilliant and brittle

3. The positives from the performance

Now, for all of my gripes on Arsenal’s inability to see out a victory against ten men, defend at even an average level, and win when they have the advantage, it should not be forgotten that they did have the advantage in the first place, and that they deserved it.

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There were many positives from this performance, if not the result. Jack Wilshere was very good in the heart of the midfield, bar a couple of loose passes; Alexandre Lacazette was excellent in leading the line, scoring the crucial goal, testing the Madrid defence with some sharp, subtle movements; Hector Bellerin and others have seemingly learned how to cross.

And more than just the individuals, the tempo that they moved the ball at, the creativity of some of the passing in the final third, the positions that many players took up in trying to unpick a stubborn Atletico defence. This was a very good performance.

The moment of madness should and will grab the headlines. That is the presiding moment from this game. But that does not mean that Arsenal were totally hapless. For every other minute bar one, they controlled this game.