UEFA Europa League
Result: BATE Borisov 1-0 Arsenal
Date: 14 February 2019
Venue: Borisov Arena
Ten-man Arsenal went down 1-0 to BATE Borisov in the UEFA Europa League last 32 first-leg in Belarus on Thursday.
As expected, the Gunners threatened first when Henrikh Mkhitaryan's shot from eight yards out streaked wide.
The visitors missed another inviting opportunity, as Alexandre Lacazette sent a free header over the top at the halfway point.
A little later, Borisov came forth with their first chance when Maksim Skavysh sent a glancing just wide from close range as the Arsenal defence started to buckle.
With virtually the last kick of the half, Borisov took the lead following Stanislaw Dragun's close-range header.
Arsenal responded positively in the second half when Lacazette's swerving shot from 25-yards narrowly sailed past the left hand corner.
Just after the hour mark, BATE launched a promising move through the centre which saw Ihar Stasevich force a save out of Gunners shot-stopper Petr Cech.
The Gunners soon made a double switch as Lucas Torreira and Pierre Emerick Aubameyang came on in all offensive move in the final minutes.
As the clock winded down, Sead Kolasinac dragged a shot from an acute angle wide after being played through from the left.
Arsenal finished the game a man short with Lacazette given a straight red for an elbow on a BATE defender in the closing minutes, leaving the visitors with a mountain to climb in the return-leg at home.
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