A strong Gunners team showing just two changes from their win over Huddersfield were firm favourites to triumph in the first leg in Belarus, yet were profligate in the final third and paid the price when Stanislav Dragun headed in the only goal of the game on the stroke of half-time.
Arsenal’s misery was compounded with five minutes remaining at the Borisov Arena as Lacazette was given his marching orders for an elbow on Aleksandar Filipovic.
Speaking after the game, Emery insisted that he had addressed the issue with the French striker.
“Next week we aren’t going to play with him but now we are going to think with the players that are okay for next week.”
Despite Arsenal’s below-par performance, Emery is fully confident that Arsenal – who are not in FA Cup action at the weekend – will overturn that one-goal deficit when they host BATE at the Emirates Stadium next Thursday night.
Unai Emery was not impressed with how Alexandre Lacazette acted on Thursday night
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) February 15, 2019
“I trust in our players and I trust in our stadium and supporters,” he added. “There are two matches.
“Tonight’s match is important but we can’t [be knocked out in it], we are going to play a second match next week. I trust in our work to prepare for the next match and to have a different result in Emirates Stadium.”