Arsenal’s under19’s lost to Atletico Madrid on Tuesday night in the UEFA Youth League.

Losing the game to a first-minute goal scored by Amath Diedhiou, the young Guns got off to the worst possible start as they conceded with 30 seconds on the clock.

It was the fourth time in five UEFA Youth League Games that the youngsters had found themselves behind within 10 minutes, a problem that would certainly seem to need to be addressed.

Despite dominating the game for the majority of the match after conceding the early goal, Arsenal could not find a way to break down their hosts even when Atletico had Theo sent off late in the game. The red card was almost an inevitability as the Spaniards resorted to fouling Arsenal in order to break up their rhythm.

Dan Crowley
Dan Crowley

A second-half penalty shout was also waved away by the referee after Stephy Mavididi was bundled over in the box just a couple of minutes after the second half got underway.

In the end, the Spanish side got enough men behind the ball and defended resolutely and, despite throwing everyone forward, Arsenal were unable to find the goal that would have taken the tie to penalties.

Atletico could now face Chelsea in the last 16 of the competition should Chelsea overcome Zenit St. Petersburg.

ATLETICO MADRID: Manzanara, Theo, Mendiondo, Alberto, Nunez (Altamirano 80), Diedhiou, Fede (Montoro 87), Mohedano, Tete Morente (Moreno 90), Otia.

Subs not used: Perez, Kevin, Gama, Spoljaric

Yellow: Mohedano, Alberto, Manzanara, Mendiondo

Red: Theo  (84)

Goal: Diedhiou (1)

ARSENAL: Huddart, Johnson, Dobson, O’Connor, Robinson (Bola 52), Maitland-Niles, Zelalem, Iwobi, Crowley, Hinds, Mavididi

Subs not used: Keto, Bola, Sheaf, Smith, Donovan, Eyoma, Willock

Yellow: Crowley