A disappointing night in the Europa League for the Gunners, who lost 0-1 to BATE Borisov – summed up perhaps by the sending of Lacazette in the 85th minute for violent conduct.
It was Lacazette who had previously seen a potential equaliser disallowed, due to an elbow catching the BATE keeper.
Alexandre Lacazette’s red card was the first shown to an Arsenal player in European competition since March 2017, when Laurent Koscielny was dismissed against Bayern Munich in the Champions League.
Arsenal gaffer Unai Emery was trying to look for positives after the game: “Next week we are going to play another 90 minutes and I am sure it is going to be different. Today the first half was a good performance for us, we had chances to score, sometimes last week our chances brought a goal and today they did not.”
Arsenal had almost 77% of the ball yet couldn’t finish off the Belarusians.
This was BATE’s first victory against an English side in Europe – however the Belarus champions may want to reign in their celebrations until after they travel to the Emirates for the second leg next week.
This weekend’s fixture list focuses on the FA Cup, which gives Arsenal time to lick their wounds.
Whatever Emery’s true ambitions are in the Europa, the Spaniard’s priority is surely to see off a rejuvenated Manchester United, who are Arsenal’s biggest hurdle in their chase for a top four finish.
