Arsenal were defeated by a single BATE Borisov goal in Belarus on Thursday night in the first leg of a Europa League round of 32 tie between the two teams.
Huge favourites to win, Unai Emery’s side instead failed to score in Barysaw and were unable to respond when their hosts struck shortly before half-time.
#BateArsenal To file in the 'not a lot of people know that' box BATE is actually an acronym for Borisov plant of Automotive and Tractor Electrical.#thursdaynights
— Paddy (@paddygspur) February 14, 2019
Arsenal struggled to impose themselves despite having an advantage in that the Belarusian Premier League is still in the middle of pre-season.
In the eyes of some fans, the new manager’s plan was unclear and there are murmurings that he is yet to show much progression from the last days of Arsène Wenger’s reign at the club.
https://twitter.com/SSIIIIUUUU/status/1096140177360203777
Things got worse for the visitors when Alexandre Lacazette was sent off in the 85th minute for elbowing an opponent in the face.
These were the best tweets and jokes after BATE Borisov 1-0 Arsenal:
Forget Brexit. If you want humiliation in Europe, Arsenal will do the job #BateArsenal
— Ian Stone (@iandstone) February 14, 2019
https://twitter.com/Edogmaloney/status/1096122511706779648
Arsenal losing to a team that doesn't even have adult fans pic.twitter.com/MA4lzuCCdS
— Miriti Murungi (@NutmegRadio) February 14, 2019
How many Windows does emery need to beat bate borisov?
— Akh (@RilwanLucas) February 14, 2019
#BateArsenal Ref showing the love on #ValentinesDay pic.twitter.com/5NudxlbZPd
— ☆ (@telboy34) February 14, 2019
Surprising that Arsenal are struggling to master BATE this evening.
— Ian Doyle (@IanDoyleSport) February 14, 2019
Özil’s just paused Fortnite to check the score and is absolutely howling
— Ron Rockstone (@SmolManSyndrome) February 14, 2019
“Well, that’s done, time to check the #Arsenal score.” pic.twitter.com/qZQUTKrXgl
— Stephen Bush (@stephenkb) February 14, 2019
https://twitter.com/TomFoins/status/1096126850198372353
Stanislav Dragun’s goal for BATE Borisov against Arsenal sounds so much better with a patriotic song about Belarus playing in the background pic.twitter.com/r4ImTw1MO1
— Fake Carlton (@_CarltonCole9) February 14, 2019
Man are telling me BATE kit man, chef, physio and head coach is all the same don and arsenal lost? Aite bet
— #DISUNOMICS (@_NOMICS) February 14, 2019
So Arsenal lose to Bate away lol! Best episode of Emmerdale we've seen in years
— The United Stand (@UnitedStandMUFC) February 14, 2019
https://twitter.com/TheManUtdWay/status/1096134825982001152
— KeithTheGooner (@KeithTheGooner) February 14, 2019
— M (@MarkoVonBasten) February 14, 2019
To put things in perspective, this was BATE Borisov's first competitive game since 13 December #afc
— Urban Arsenal (@urbanarsenaI) February 14, 2019
BATE v Arsenal:
Terrible, Awful, absolutely disgraceful, should hang their heads in shame. To only score one goal against these Minnows, Bate should be ashamed.
— LJohnson (@lazqetjohnson) February 14, 2019
Alex Iwobi on the ball… #TouchlineFracas pic.twitter.com/81i67UrhVo
— Danté (@MRFANTASTlK) February 14, 2019
Hleb at 37 could easily get into this Arsenal team. #BateArsenal
— Westie (@Westie1920) February 14, 2019
I've said it before and I'll say it again. Emery is too ugly to be Arsenal manager.
— Paddy (@PaddyArsenal) February 14, 2019
The advantage of this garbage being played at 5.55 is that it doesn't waste your evening #BateArsenal #kroenkeout
— Dövid G (@Greatgooner) February 14, 2019
Lacazette so frustrated, even he wanted to leave early pic.twitter.com/lVFODYP4e9
— P™ (@SemperFiArsenal) February 14, 2019
Fucking hell Lacazette. Now Emery will have an excuse to put another defender in the second leg smh.
— Spanish Gooner (@elspanishgooner) February 14, 2019
don’t worry boss he needed a good elbow to the face x
— Welé (@Welbeck_The_God) February 14, 2019
https://twitter.com/UnitedTrinity68/status/1096140449004302337
My 6 year old son just came into my room saying "I miss Wenger. Honest to God I miss him. I miss 4th place" And now he's crying. Thanks to you Emery. #EmeryOut #WengerBack
— Vishal Kumar (@JuggyBenitez) February 14, 2019
If I’m honest Arsenal fans deserve at least 3 years of misery for the way Arsène was treated.
— Calum (@CalArsenal) February 14, 2019