Arsenal have been held to a 1-1 draw by Atletico Madrid in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final, despite playing against 10 men for the majority of Thursday's match at the Emirates Stadium.

Atletico defender Sime Vrsaljko was dismissed for two yellow cards after just 10 minutes but despite Alexandre Lacazettegiving Arsenal the lead, a late goal from Antoine Griezmannhas swung the tie in the La Liga side's favour.

Arsene Wenger's team must now score in the Wanda Metropolitano next week to maintain any hope of the long-serving boss experiencing a fairytale finale in Lyon.

Arsenal almost scored a dream goal within seven minutes of kickoff in North London with Danny Welbeck's inch-perfect cross finding Lacazette by the penalty spot, but the Frenchman scuffed his volley wide of the far post.

Moments later, Nacho Monreal whipped in another superb delivery for Lacazette but on this occasion, the forward saw his header prevented from finding the top corner by Jan Oblak.

Arsenal were well on top and the Premier League side were soon gifted a man advantage when Vrsaljko was sent off for two bookable offences, the second of which came as a result of the right-back's studs making connection with Lacazette's ankle.

Diego Simeone was furious with the decision and after taking his protests regarding the lack of a yellow card for an Arsenal player too far, the Argentine was promptly dismissed to the stands.

Arsenal surged forward in numbers as they looked for the goal that their early play deserved but after Jack Wilshere failed to make the most of a header at the back post, Welbeck fired too close to Oblak after being played in by the midfielder.

Monreal also watched on as a right-footed volley went agonisingly wide of the far post and Atletico remaining on level terms eventually resulted in the Spaniards showing more ambition in the final third.

Their best two chances fell to Griezmann but on both occasions, the French attacker was superbly denied by David Ospina who remained alert to keep out efforts down to his left.

After the restart, the onus was on Arsenal to regain the momentum but although the Gunners were dominating possession, Atletico had set their stall out at the back and were preventing their hosts from creating any clear-cut chances.

However, shortly after the hour mark, Arsenal finally found the breakthrough. Monreal won the ball back just outside of the area and after Wilshere advanced into the penalty area and floated a cross towards Lacazette, the striker did the rest with a header into the corner from eight yards out.

As the match entered the final quarter, Lacazette glanced a header wide of the far post and Granit Xhaka blazed well over the crossbar from distance, but it appeared that Arsenal were going to do enough to take a slender lead to Madrid next week.

That was until eight minutes to go when Atletico found a potentially-decisive equaliser. Griezmann latched onto a ball over the top and although his initial shot after capitalising on poor defending from Laurent Koscielny was saved, the ball ricocheted back into his path and a second effort from close range found the roof of the net via Shkodran Mustafi.

Arsenal attempted to rally late on with Aaron Ramsey seeing a header superbly clawed away from goal by Oblak, but the English outfit could not force a winner and must find a goal in Spain next week to maintain any hope of reaching the final.

 

Payet sets up Marseille to beat Salzburg 2-0 in Europa semis

Dimitri Payet looked back to his best after setting up both goals as Marseille beat Salzburg 2-0 in the first leg of their Europa League semifinal on Thursday.

Winger Florian Thauvin headed in Payet's curling free kick deep to the back post in the 15th minute, although video replays showed Thauvin headed the ball onto his outstretched hand before it went in.

"I did touch it with my hand, it seems," Thauvin said on beIN Sports television. "But I'm happy we won and that we're in a good position to qualify."

It was Thauvin's 22nd goal of an outstanding season which has seen him break back into the France squad ahead of the World Cup.

Payet is fighting to keep his France squad place, but another performance like this will make it hard for coach Didier Deschamps to freeze him out of Russia. He was involved in all of Marseille's best moves at Stade Velodrome, and even chased back to harry Salzburg's players.

But he did the most damage with his passing, expertly setting up substitute Clinton N'Jie for Marseille's second goal in the 63rd.

N'Jie had been on the field only a few minutes, but brilliantly took down a pass near the halfway line and flicked it to Payet sprinting down the left. Payet then resisted the temptation to cross quickly, instead waiting for N'Jie to drift into the penalty area before feeding him with a perfect pass to fire home from.

Salzburg beat Marseille at home and drew away in the group stage this season. But the Austrian side did not threaten until the 29th, when a fine run and shot from right back Stefan Lainer forced a smothering save from goalkeeper Yohann Pele.

Midfielder Hannes Wolf almost leveled in the 53rd, but Pele expertly tipped over his rasping shot. Pele had a fine game, rushing off his line to keep out a shot from left back Andreas Ulmer, moments after Ulmer's pass led to Xaver Schlager hitting the left post with a fine half-volley.

"You can't reach the final without effort, sacrifice and suffering," Marseille center half Adil Rami said. "But we're still a long way off."

The winner plays Arsenal or Atletico Madrid in the final on May 16 in the French city of Lyon. Arsenal drew with visiting Atletico 1-1.