*Costa⭐ Haunts Arsenal as Wenger Denied❌ Perfect Farewell 📹 📹* http://v.duta.us/gfATaQAA
Arsene Wenger was denied the opportunity of a perfect Arsenal farewell as Atletico Madrid won 1-0 to secure a 2-1 aggregate triumph and a spot in the Europa League final.
Wenger confirmed in April that his 22-year association with the club will conclude at the end of the season and the players' bid to see him sign off with a first European trophy ultimately came up short against Diego Simeone's characteristically shrewd Atletico, for whom Diego Costa netted the decisive goal.
Arsenal's luck appeared to be out early on as they lost captain Laurent Koscielny to injury, with the France international now a potential doubt for the World Cup as a result.
And, although the Gunners responded with commendable spirit, they failed to capitalise on their time in the ascendancy and Atletico showed them how it was done just before the interval – familiar foe Costa netting a fourth goal in seven games against Arsenal.
While Atletico continued to craft chances in the second half, there was a hint of tension in the stands – from where the banned Simeone watched on – that was transferred to the players and gave Arsenal encouragement.
But the visitors, still facing a battle just to claim a top-six spot in the Premier League, were simply incapable of breaking through Atletico's exceptionally well-drilled defence as the home side dug deep to hold off Arsenal's late onslaught, booking passage to the final in Lyon on May 16.
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*Marseille Down👊 Spirited RB Salzburg in Extra Time⏱ 📹* http://v.duta.us/W8owGAAA
Marseille booked a place in the final of the Europa League after surviving a stirring Red Bull Salzburg comeback, Rolando's extra-time goal proving decisive in a 3-2 aggregate victory.
The French giants led 2-0 from the opening leg at home, but a flat performance from Rudi Garcia's men opened the door for Salzburg to battle their way back into the tie with a 2-0 victory over the 90 minutes at the Red Bull Arena on Thursday.
Throughout a low-quality first half a Salzburg comeback appeared improbable, but two goals in 12 minutes got the Austrian side level on aggregate and dreaming of a place in the final.
Amadou Haidara's brilliant solo goal sparked life into Marco Rose's side and when Bouna Sarr could only deflect a shot from Xaver Schlager into his own net, the tie was level.
But Marseille struck the winner with four minutes of extra-time to go, substitute Rolando finishing well from a Dimitri Payet corner to spark delirious celebrations.
Salzburg's players remonstrated furiously that the set-piece was incorrectly awarded and, left needing two goals to advance, lost their discipline in the closing stages as Marseille progressed to the final on home soil – they will play Atletico Madrid in Lyon on May 16.
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*Koscielny⭐ to Miss World Cup🏆 After Tearing Achilles Tendon😟*
France and Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny will miss the World Cup after suffering a torn Achilles on Thursday.
Less than 10 minutes into his club's Europa League semi-final second leg at Atletico Madrid, the centre-back went down unchallenged after appearing to lose his footing on the Wanda Metropolitano turf.
His discomfort was plain to see, as he grimaced on the floor while clutching his Achilles tendon.
Koscielny received limited treatment on the pitch and was then stretchered off, with the game still poised at 1-1 on aggregate after Arsenal and Atletico played out a score draw in the first leg.
It was confirmed by sources that the club believes Koscielny has torn his Achilles tendon and faces a prolonged spell on the sidelines.
The defender's season has thus come to an end, and he will miss the rest of the Gunners' games.
France too will miss their experienced centre-back, with the World Cup just a month away.
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*Mourinho👔 Feels Assistant Faria a Good Choice for Arsenal❗*
Jose Mourinho believes Manchester United assistant Rui Faria would be a good choice for the vacant Arsenal manager's job, offering to help his friend pack and "carry the bags".
Speculation is rife as to who will succeed Arsene Wenger when his 22-year reign comes to an end this summer, with Liverpool No 2 Zeljko Buvac the surprise bookmakers' favourite.
Buvac is not the only Premier League assistant to be linked with the Gunners post as speculation has linked Manchester City's coach - and former Arsenal captain - Mikel Arteta as well as Mourinho's right-hand man.
Asked if his assistant would be a contender for the Emirates role, the United boss said: "I think so, yes. I don't know (if he wants to be a manager). You ask me if I think it would be a good fit and I say 'yes'.
"And I say it because more than my assistant, he is my friend. If my friend has the possibility one day of a big job I would help him to pack and to carry the bags and to wish him luck.
"So, if one day that is going to happen the first one to be happy would probably be myself because I met him when he was a kid in his university and we were together for 18 years, so he is a big friend, more than an assistant."
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*Arsenal Great Keown Slams Mesut Ozil😡*
Arsenal great Martin Keown blasted midfielder Mesut Ozil after the club's Europa League semi-final loss to Atletico Madrid.
Arsene Wenger's men suffered a 1-0 loss to Atletico at the Wanda Metropolitano on Thursday, beaten 2-1 on aggregate in the last four.
Ozil was unable to have an impact for the Premier League side, who had just one shot on target in the second leg.
Keown – who won three league titles at Arsenal and made more than 300 appearances for the club – was scathing in assessing the Germany international's display.
"That is not a proper performance. He's not giving everything. There's much more under the bonnet. Somebody else will find it," he said on BT Sport .
"Whether the new manager coming in can find it, I don't know, it's a big problem for the new manager because Wenger's invested an awful lot of money in this player and I'm not seeing a performance to go with it.
"He wasn't fit to wear the shirt for me tonight. I've seen this a lot this season and it needs to be said because it needs to be dug out because we expect better from him."
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*Wenger Very Sad😢 After Europa League Heartbreak💔*
Arsene Wenger will leave Arsenal as a "very sad" man at the end of the season after he was unable to guide the club into the Europa League final in his last campaign at the helm.
Wenger announced his decision to depart in April, after being in the job for nearly 22 years and presiding over three Premier League title wins and seven FA Cup triumphs.
His imminent exit was seen as an extra incentive for the players to secure a Europa League crown to send the 68-year-old off on a high.
And Wenger acknowledged it is a sad ending for him, with his last game at Arsenal set to be against Huddersfield Town rather than in a European final.
"It's very sad, very, very, very sad," said Wenger. "I'm very sad to leave the club with that exit.
"It takes some time to recover from that, after I will see what I do with myself in the future. I have no plans at the moment.
"I am like the team; very sad and very disappointed, even very frustrated, as well, because when you go out of a competition and you had the performances in the 180 minutes that we had, it is very difficult to take."
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