EUROPA: Iwobi benched as late Atletico goal holds Arsenal; Marseille beat Salzburg

Super Eagles forward, Alex Iwobi was an unused substitute as Arsenal were held to a 1-1 draw by Atletico Madrid in a Europa League semifinal first leg clash at the Emirates.

Despite playing with 10 men from the 10th minute, as defender Sime Vrsaljko was dismissed for two yellow cards, the visitors held on strong.

Following the decision by the referee, an exasperated Atletico boss, Diego Simeone, was also sent to the stands – from where he watched the rest of the game.

But the opening half was goalless, and the Gunners only got ahead on the hour mark when Alexandre Lacazette nodded in Jack Wilshere’s cross.

The goal appeared to have edged the home side closer to the final, but an 82nd-minute strike by Antoine Griezmann helped put the Spanish side at advantage ahead of the second leg.

Griezmann latched onto a long ball forward, shrugged off Laurent Koscielny and stabbed into the net, to mount pressure on Arsene Wenger’s side.

In the other Europa League semifinal encounter, French side, Marseille defeated their visitors, RB Salzburg of Austria, 2-0 to take control of the tie.

The reverse fixtures of both ties will take place next week Thursday.

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