Wenger berates ‘stupid’ Arsenal goals; reflects on ‘cruel suffering’

Arsene Wenger admitted it is ‘very very sad’ that his European adventure with Arsenal came to an end in the Europa League semi-finals.

Diego Costa ensured Wenger’s 22-year reign as Arsenal manager will end in Huddersfield and not Lyon as the former Chelsea man hit the winner for Atletico Madrid in a closely fought Europa League semi-final.

“It was a similar game to what we had in the first leg,” Wenger told BT Sport.

“The dangerous situations we created were there but we missed something in both boxes. We played a good team and good luck to them in the final but we feel we did enough to go through. We didn’t manage the important moments of either game well.

“We were 1-0 up with ten minutes to go at home, and then we conceded a stupid goal. Tonight we looked OK and then conceded on the counter attack.

“Atletico played with fear in the first half that if we score they could be out, but once they scored they played with a cushion. We lost possession and Diego Costa is one of the best strikers in the world.

“It is very very sad but unfortunately you have to go through this in our game. It can be very cruel but sometimes it is nice. The suffering is tough tonight.”

On Laurent Koscielny’s injury, Wenger added: “It is an Achilles rupture and maybe we will have good news, but the first signs are not very good.”

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