Atletico Madrid are in the driving seat of their UEFA Europa League (UEL) semifinal clash with Arsenal after they secured an impressive 1-1 draw with ten men in the 1st leg at the Emirates Stadium on Thursday night.

Diego Simeone’s men were dealt an early blow following Croatian rightback Srme Vrsaljko’s dismissal for two yellow cards inside ten minutes but the Spanish La Liga outfit held on for a goalless affair at the halftime interval.

Arsenal strike Alexandre Lacazette then gave the hosts the lead with a well taken header just past the hour mark for his 7th goal in as many games only for the Gunners to loose the lead in the last ten minutes after Antoine Griezmann pounced on the uncertainty in the Arsenal defence to get the all important away goal for the Rojiblancos.

Both sides meet again next week Thursday for the 2nd leg billed for the new Wanda Metropolitano to decide who will contest the final.

In the other semifinal, Florian Thauvin and Clinton N’Jie scored either side of halftime to give Marseille a 2-0 home win over Red Bull Salzburg.