Alexandre Lacazette sent off as miserable Arsenal slump to defeat against Bate Borisov

Arsenal started with a strong side but kept Lucas Torreira and new signing Denis Suarez on the bench.

However, despite a couple of early chances, it was BATE who took the lead when Stanislaw Dragun headed in minutes before half-time.

In the second half, Arsenal had a goal from Alexandre Lacazette disallowed for offside, and Unai Emery introduced new signing Suarez with about a quarter of an hour left, but could not find a way through against a side that had not played competitively for two months.

When substitute Alexandre Lacazette was sent off with five minutes remaining, it only made the second leg harder.

After a poor run of form, Arsenal needed to stay in contention in the Europa League as a way to secure a path to the Champions League, but they will need a strong second leg to rescue the tie.

Should Lacazette have been sent off? The short answer is yes. The longer answer is also yes, obviously. While he did not hurt or seriously injure Aleksandar Filipovic, his frustration will weaken his side for the return leg that they should easily win regardless. The mistake betrays the lack of discipline that is returning to Arsenal under Unai Emery after a good start.

Stanislaw Dragun (BATE Borisov): Dragun won the game, which was clearly the decisive moment of the tie so far, but in the second half he and the side put in a disciplined and organised defensive performance. More of that at the Emirates and they could well qualify.

BATE: Scherbitskiy 7, Rios 6, Volkov 6, Filipenko 6, Filipovic 7, Baga 6, Dragun 7, Hleb 6, Skavysh 7, Milic 7, Stasevich 6. Subs: Berezkin 6, Dubajic 6, Moukam 6.

Arsenal: Cech 6, Mustafi 6, Koscielny 6, Monreal 6, Maitland-Niles 6, Guendouzi 5, Xhaka 6, Kolasinac 7, Iwobi 7, Mkhitaryan 5, Lacazette 4. Subs: Torreira 5, Suarez 5, Aubameyang 5.

2’ - SCHERBITSKIY SAVE - Kolasinac was put inside the box, down the left channel, he found Mkhitaryan's run where he scuffed an effort at the 'keeper about 10 yards out.

41’ - KOLASINAC CHANCE - Mustafi swings in a cross, there is a sea of incompetence for it to pass through, before it reaches Kolasinac who blasts it wide from an acute angle.

45’ - GOAL! BATE 1-0 Arsenal. Dragun scores - The free kick from the right finds Dragun at the near post, freed from Kolasinac, and he angles a header over a poor effort from Cech.

55’ - DISALLOWED! Arsenal happy to play the ball patiently in defence, and they open up the defence again on the left. Kolasinac is released into space on the left, he squares it to Lacazette, who is correctly flagged offside before tucking it away at the near post.

61’ - CECH SAVE - Stasevich is released behind Koscielny and he drills a shot across Cech, who beats it away.

85’ - RED CARD! Lacazette is sent off. The striker is fouled with a nudge in the back of Filipovic, and then tugged back, and so he slammed his arm into his face and made the ref's decision for him.