Former Arsenal manager Unai Emery had the last laugh as his current team Villarreal sent his former employers packing from the Europa League. The Spanish side progressed thanks to a win in the first leg and will face Manchester United in the final.
One could be forgiven for thinking that Arsenal were the side with the advantage in the second leg, such was their lack of urgency. Mikel Arteta’s side was chasing a solitary goal after losing the semi-final first leg 2-1 last week. However, the Gunners barely created any opportunities, and in the end, were eliminated from the competition by their former head coach, Unai Emery.
A Nicholas Pepe penalty in the first leg ensured that Arsenal remained in the tie for the return fixture. Villarreal had opportunities to put the game to bed last week, but some good saves from Bernd Leno denied them the chance to extend their lead even further. As such, the Gunners needed just the one goal at the Emirates to progress to the final, as long as they kept a clean sheet.
Despite the high stakes involved, Arsenal never really looked to have grasped the seriousness of the situation. The Gunners started slow, barely created any chances, and were unable to find the goal. The closest they came to scoring on the night was through Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who hit the post twice. However, a dull draw confirmed their exit from the competition while Villarreal progressed to the final, where they will meet Manchester United.
Arteta and the players drew the fury of Arsenal fans after the match, who accused those involved of not realizing the gravity of the situation. The Gunners now risk missing out on European football completely next season, with all of their avenues closing around them. While their exit from Europa League all but confirms the fact that they won’t be playing in the Champions League next season, things could get even worse. They risk falling into the bottom half of the table in the league and missing out on all three tiers of the European competition.
