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Atletico Madrid striker Antoine Griezmann said his team were able to take advantage of their opponents' errors after the France international's late strike earned his 10-man side a 1-1 draw in Thursday's Europa League semifinal first leg at Arsenal. Amid a generally shaky start from Atletico, right-back Sime Vrsaljko picked up two yellow cards within 11 minutes, with coach Diego Simeone soon also sent off for angry protests directed at French referee Clement Turpin. Atletico were penned in and needed superb interventions from Diego Godin and Jan Oblak to keep it goalless until on the hour, Alexandre Lacazette headed in Jack Wilshere's cross at the back post. Arsene Wenger's team pushed and pushed for a second but with 10 minutes remaining Griezmann took advantage of a slip by Laurent Koscielny to equalise. Ahead of next Thursday's second leg at Atletico's Wanda Metropolitano, Griezmann told BeIn Sports on the final whistle that the start of the game had been "crazy" but his team had known how to stick in there and then take their chance when it came. "The truth is the start of the game was a bit crazy, many things happened," Griezmann said. "We were with 10 and we all defended and worked. A little mistake by the opponent and a goal, we know how to take advantage of errors." Oblak made a string of superb saves, including an incredible finger tip stop from Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey's header when the home team pressured again at 1-1. "Jan is the best keeper at the moment," Griezmann said. "I don't say that just as he is my teammate, but for the saves he makes and the points he brings us." Griezmann predicted that the atmosphere at the Wanda next Thursday would be heated. "Now we have a nice home return at home and hopefully our fans can help us to go through," he said. "We must do it now, we expect a euphoric atmosphere at the Wanda." Meanwhile, Griezmann's manager Simeone hailed his players as "heroes" for withstanding the Arsenal onslaught and playing down a man for 80 minutes. "To be honest, it was 90 minutes in which my body is filled with really strong emotions," Simeone said. "I have to say that these players, they are basically heroes. They stood firm like they did after such a long season, when our squad is so short, they stood firm for 80 minutes. "The stadium on Thursday really needs to be exploding with positive energy in order to reflect that passion. When you defend and defend and defend... You guys have no idea how difficult it is to defend. Football is about playing, and playing is the fun part, but defending, you really need to have balls to do that."
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