Antoine Griezmann punishes wasteful Arsenal as 10-man Atletico Madrid salvage draw

Antoine Griezmann punished a wasteful Arsenal side as 10-man Atletico Madrid salvaged a valuable 1-1 draw in their Europa League semi-final first leg at the Emirates Stadium.

A fiery opening saw Sime Vrsaljko sent off for two bookable offences after just nine minutes, while manager Diego Simeone was sent to the stands just moments later.

Arsenal struggled to break the deadlock despite the man advantage, and though Alexandre Lacazette finally nodded the hosts ahead after the hour-mark, Griezmann captialised on some lax defending to secure a vital away goal for Atleti.

It will be a bitter pill for Arsene Wenger to swallow, in what was the Frenchman's final home European match in charge of Arsenal - from 28 attempts, they scored just once, and the Gunners have it all to do in the return leg next week.

Arsenal face mammoth task in second leg after squandering their advantage. For so long, the only question seemed to be how big Arsenal's lead would be for next week's second leg in the Spanish capital. But Antoine Griezmann's suckerpunch ensured Arsene Wenger's last European home match with Arsenal ended in shellshock and bitter disappointment and the question is now: can Arsenal score at all in Spain? Atletico are yet to concede a goal in a Europa League home match this season and they have kept clean sheets in their last 11 matches at the La Peineta, where they have shipped just four league goals all season. Šime Vrsaljko will be suspended for the second leg after his rash sending off but Arsenal will have to find a way past Uruguayans Diego Godin and Jose Giminez, who were superb, and the brilliant Jan Oblak. It feels like a near-impossible task for Wenger's side, despite such a dominant performance in the first leg.

Jan Oblak (Atletico): The towering goalkeeper was powerless to stop Alexandre Lacazette's header but he made a string of fine saves to keep Arsenal at bay, including a sprawling stop to deny Danny Welbeck in the first half before he clawed away Aaron Ramsey's header with a fingertip in the dying minutes.

Arsenal XI: Ospina 6, Bellerin 6, Mustafi 5, Koscielny 4, Monreal 7, Xhaka 7, Ramsey 7, Wilshere 7, Ozil 6, Welbeck 7, Lacazette 8.

Atletico XI: Oblak 9; Vrsaljko 2, Gimenez 8, Godin 8, Lucas 7; Correa 6, Thomas 7, Saul 6, Koke 6; Griezmann 8, Gameiro 5. Subs: Torres 5, Gabi 6, Savic 6.

5' - CHANCE (Lacazette): The Frenchman miscues a volley from Welbeck's cross before heading too close to Oblak, who palms the ball away, from Monreal's delivery.

9' - RED CARD (Vrsaljko): After being booked inside two minutes for a lunch on Wilshere, the Croatian right-back is shown a second yellow for a late stamp on Welbeck.

11' - RED CARD (Simeone): The Atelti manager is sent to the stands for his furious protests after Bellerin escapes a yellow card for a benign challenge.

21' - CHANCE (Welbeck): The England striker opens his body and passes towards goal but Oblak is out quickly to save.

35' - CHANCE (Griezman): First big chance for the Frenchman, who tests Ospina with a crisp drive after a bundling run by Partey.

59' - GOAL (Lacazette): Griezmann's error on the edge of the box leaves Wilshere with space to stand up a cross to the back post, where Lacazette leaps wonderfully and nods Arsenal in front.

80' - GOAL (Griezmann): Koscielny makes a hash off a long ball, which is pounced on by Griezmann. His first effort is saved by Ospina but his follow up ricochets off Mustafi into the roof of the net!

86' - CHANCE (Ramsey): Oblak makes a stunning fingertip save to keep out the Welshman's header.

Atelti have conceded just 19 goals all season -- the fewest of clubs in Europe's top five leagues.