Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone spent almost the entire second leg of his side's Champions League semifinal defeat by Arsenal prowling his technical area, gesticulating at his players and seemingly kicking every ball.

As his hopes of taking the club to the final for a third time in his 15-year reign faded, late on in Atletico's 1-0 loss at the Emirates, his emotions got the better of him and, not for the first time while wearing a suit, he was booked.

But, later, the 56-year-old Argentine was a model of composure as he reflected on a 2-1 aggregate defeat for his team which found resilient Arsenal too tough a nut to crack.

"I feel calm, I feel peace, I think the team gave absolutely everything," he told reporters. "(Arsenal) took their big chance in the first half and they deserved it."

Simeone's side struggled to open up an Arsenal defense that kept a ninth clean sheet in this season's Champions League, and the Spaniards were left to rue the opportunities they spurned in the second half of the 1-1 draw in Madrid last week.

"In the first leg, we could have won it, but we were not clinical enough," he said. "We gave it our all and now we have to accept the place that we are in. I'm proud of where we are."

Simeone was generous in his praise of Arsenal — a team that boasts many of the attributes — defensive discipline and an ability to win ugly — once associated with his own side.

"I think Mikel Arteta has done an incredible job at Arsenal ... I'm really pleased for them, they deserve it," Simeone said.

It proved to be a night of heartbreak for Atletico's French forward Antoine Griezmann whose dream of bowing out in a Champions League final before his move to Orlando City in the MLS was shattered.

"He has been an amazing player. We are sad not just for him, but for all the fans of Atleti too," goalkeeper Jan Oblak said. "Everyone was looking for this final, but we didn't reach it so it's a difficult moment."

Simeone and Atletico's players applauded as the visiting fans sang in the stands after the match.

"I'm not going to talk about the referee, I'm sure he tried to do his best, just like it happened in the first match," Atletico midfielder Koke Resurreccion said. "He'll know how he should have refereed. I imagine that he tried his best."

Both teams had complained of penalty calls that were not awarded in the first leg, when each side converted penalties in a 1-1 draw.