Arsenal Fall To BATE In First Leg Of Europa League Knockout Tie

14th February 2019 - by Arsenal FC

Alexandre Lacazette with goal disallowed, sent off in 0-1 reverse for the Gunners in Belarus

BATE Borisov's Serbian defender Aleksandar Filipovic and Arsenal's Armenian midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan vie for the ball during the UEFA Europa League round of 32 first leg football match between FC BATE Borisov and Arsenal FC in Borisov outside Minsk on February 14, 2019. PHOTO/AFP

SUMMARY

A resolute Bate held on for the win, their first over an English side at home in European competition
Arsenal will need to win by at least two goals at Emirates Stadium next week to stay in the Europa League, after struggling to get going all evening, unable to take their first-half chances, and then unable to respond to the home team’s headed goal just before half-time.
The visitor's frustration continued to grow, illustrated up when Lacazette was sent off for swinging an elbow towards Aleksandar Filipovic late on

LONDON, England- Arsenal fell to a 0-1 first leg defeat against Bate Borisov in the Europa League round of 32 on Wednesday night in Belarus.

Stanislav Dragun nodded home Igor Stasevich's free-kick for the game's only goal just before half-time.

Arsenal's Alexandre Lacazette had a goal disallowed early in the second half before being sent off for elbowing Aleksandar Filipovic.

A resolute Bate held on for the win, their first over an English side at home in European competition.

Arsenal will need to win by at least two goals at Emirates Stadium next week to stay in the Europa League, after struggling to get going all evening, unable to take their first-half chances, and then unable to respond to the home team’s headed goal just before half-time.

On a poor playing surface, the first half was fairly scrappy, though the hosts went close a couple of times, most notably when Nemanja Milic hit the post from close range. They grew into the game as it progressed, having weathered our bright start.

Close range

Henrikh Mkhitaryan could have put Arsenal ahead in the first couple of minutes, but his shot was saved at close range after being set up by Sead Kolasinac.

But the best chance of the half for the Gunners fell to Lacazette, although the striker failed to get his header on target after Kolasinac found him with a good deep cross from the left.

Alex Lacazette (left) was sent off late on in their Europa League round of 32 knockout match on February 14, 2019. PHOTO/Arsenal FC

Arsenal were made to pay, falling behind to virtually the last touch of the half. Igor Stasevich - who had racked up six assists in the group stage - was on the money again, floating in a perfect free-kick which was headed home by Stanislav Dragun.

It was the first goal Arsenal had conceded in the competition since match day one back in September - a run of 495 minutes.

Unai Emery's side came out with renewed determination after the break, and had the ball in the net, only for Lacazette to be flagged offside.

Former Gunner Alex Hleb was withdrawn before the hour mark, to applause from both sets of fans, but at 37 his powers had unsurprisingly waned from the player who helped the Gunners reach the Champions League final in 2006.

Unai Emery made changes of his own, bringing on Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Lucas Torreira and Denis Suarez. But Arsenal still looked laboured and slow in possession.

The visitor's frustration continued to grow, illustrated up when Lacazette was sent off for swinging an elbow towards Aleksandar Filipovic late on.

It summed up a hugely disappointing night in Belarus.