Wenger wants to open Atletico’s door

BERLIN: Arsenal will need to do something that has not been done in a while if they are to continue in their quest for a trophy for outgoing manager Arsene Wenger.

They head to Madrid for their Uefa Europa League semi-final second leg tonight, knowing Atletico have not conceded in their last 11 home matches in all competitions going back to mid-January.

The Gunners were left to rue a missed opportunity after Antoine Griezmann scored a late equalizer to give 10-man Atletico a 1-1 draw in the first leg in London last week.

But absences in the Atletico backline give the Londoners hope of still winning the trophy and sneaking into next term’s Champions League.

“We know we have to go there and win the game or at least score a goal to qualify, so on that front we know exactly what we have to do,” said Wenger, who will leave the club after the season following 22 years in charge of the London-based team.

“We could open them up and create chances. So, we have to take that out of the (first leg) and go to Atletico Madrid in a positive mind.”

Mid-fielders Henrikh Mkhitaryan (knee) and Alex Iwobi (hamstring) and goalkeeper David Ospina (ribs) are all questionable after picking up injuries in the 2-1 Premier League defeat at Manchester United on Sunday. Pierre Emerick Aubameyang is ineligible.

Atletico coach Diego Simeone will welcome back striker Diego Costa, who missed the first leg with a hamstring injury but safely negotiated 60 minutes in the weekend 1-0 La Liga win at Alaves.

He will be without fullbacks Sime Vrsaljko, who was sent off in the first leg, and Juanfran Torres, who is out injured with a hamstring strain.

He could play midfielder Thomas Partey at right-back, as he did in the first leg, with Lucas Hernandez at left-back.

In the other semi-final second leg, Marseille head to Salzburg boasting a 2-0 lead, also tonight.