Pain in the Arsenal
Fansided

Arsenal Vs Atletico Madrid: 5 things we learned – Era has ended

By Andrew Dowdeswell

MADRID, SPAIN - MAY 03: Arsene Wenger, Manager of Arsenal reacts during the UEFA Europa League Semi Final second leg match between Atletico Madrid and Arsenal FC at Estadio Wanda Metropolitano on May 3, 2018 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN - MAY 03: Arsene Wenger, Manager of Arsenal reacts during the UEFA Europa League Semi Final second leg match between Atletico Madrid and Arsenal FC at Estadio Wanda Metropolitano on May 3, 2018 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 5
Next
MADRID, SPAIN – MAY 03: Diego Costa of Atletico Madrid reacts after scoring the first goal during the UEFA Europa League Semi Final second leg match between Atletico Madrid and Arsenal FC at Estadio Wanda Metropolitano on May 3, 2018 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN – MAY 03: Diego Costa of Atletico Madrid reacts after scoring the first goal during the UEFA Europa League Semi Final second leg match between Atletico Madrid and Arsenal FC at Estadio Wanda Metropolitano on May 3, 2018 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images) /

2. Atletico expose the biggest weakness

It was painfully obvious, the difference between these two teams. One was artistic, creative, exciting, talented, but inherently flawed; the other was resilient, steeled, hardened, and experienced. It is not difficult to tell which one is which.

The way in which Madrid managed this double-legged tie was masterful. Even with ten men and one goal down in the first leg, they were still happy to sit deep and accept the position of a one-goal deficit entering the second leg. And here, they relinquished possession, they were clinical when they got their chance, and they took advantage of their lead.

Arsenal, on the other hand, cost themselves this game because of two stupid, lapse, concentration-less moments — Laurent Koscielny and Nacho Monreal in the first leg; Hector Bellerin on this occasion. Their lack of game management is painful. It has been for some time, and it was horribly exposed by the masters.