Despite playing against 10 men for 80 minutes and taking the lead, Arsenal ‘have it all to do’ in the second leg of their Europa League semi-final against Atletico Madrid according to former Gunners striker Kevin Campbell.
Arsene Wenger’s men started the game well, and were given a boost when Sime Vrsaljko was sent off for a second yellow card after just 10 minutes. They continued to dominate for the majority of the match, taking the lead through Alexandre Lacazette after an hour, but a late Antoine Griezmann equaliser changed the entire complex of the match.
The game finished at 1-1, with Griezmann’s away goal seeming to have handed Atletico the advantage going into next weeks second leg.
Arsenal, who are yet to win an away game in the whole of 2018 know that they must score at the Wanda Metropolitano next week, an feat not achieved by any visiting side since in the last 11 attempts.
Speaking to ITV Sport, Campbell said:
“Sometimes you just have to say, ‘do you know what, we’ll take a 1-0, we’ll go to Madrid with an advantage because then they have to come out at us.’
“But to concede like that hands all the impetus to Atletico, and now Arsenal have it all to do.
“Can Arsenal do it? Of course they can but they have to defend a lot better.”
Campbell and Glenn Hoddle also slammed Arsenal’s ‘lazy’ defending for the Spanish side’s equaliser.