Thank you very much for joining us in this historic meeting, until next time!
The Gunners tried, especially after the break, but Villarreal held up well on defense (despite some setbacks) and managed to keep a clean sheet. With this result, and with Europe out of Arsenal's prospects for next season (the Europa League was their only ticket to participate in continental competitions), Arsenal have failed to reach the final of a major European / domestic cup competition due to first time since 2015-16 (reaching the 2016-17 FA Cup, 2017-18 League Cup, 2018-19 Europa League and 2019-20 FA Cup finals since then). The Gunners, barring surprise, will be left out of a continental competition for the first time in 25 years.
Villarreal will face Manchester United, who have demolished Paulo Fonseca's Roma. With this tie, Emery's team is undefeated in 14 games in European competition (12V 2E), losing for the last time in April 2019 (0-2 vs Valencia in the second leg of the quarterfinals in the Europa League).
The score was not moved at the Emirates and Villarreal maintained their advantage to get their ticket to the final on May 26 in Gdansk, the first European final they will play in their history as a club. The first half was decaffeinated, but in the second there were sections in which Arsenal attacked with great danger and put Villarreal on the ropes: mainly at the start of the second half and in the final ten minutes, in which the yellow submarine was retreated in its area clearing the Gunners' attempts. Aubameyang, Smith-Rowe, Pépé and Bellerín tried, but the Groguets players held on and certify their passage to the final, after the four previous occasions in which they were hung in the semifinals. The fifth time was the charm.
FINAL IN THE EMIRATES! Villarreal qualify for their first European final in their history. Emery's held up well.
Reach out and kiss the saint. Nketiah takes the first yellow for Arsenal, the second of the match, for a tackle on Coquelin. It came very. late Arsenal player.
Arteta also moves token and takes out Bellerín and admits Nketiah.
5 MINUTES ADDED IN THE EMIRATES!
The second change from Emery is Yeremi Pino for Moi Gómez.
Double change in the ranks of Villarreal! Pedraza leaves and Alberto Moreno enters.
BELLERIN AGAIN ARMANDING IT! Second dangerous shot attempt by the Arsenal side, which Villarreal has to clear and which gives the Gunners a new corner kick.
Seconds of agony for Villarreal! First it was Lacazette who had the opportunity to finish off in the area, but Martinelli hindered him. The French striker filtered the pass to Bellerín, on the other side of the area, and his shot almost managed to connect with Martinelli at the far post, but it was too fast.
Yeremi Pino takes the first yellow of the match in the 86th minute of the game for protesting to the referee the yellow for Pablo Marí, which he did. lack.
Gaining time Villarreal with several fouls in their favor, both committed on Yeremi Pino.
Corner in favor of Arsenal after a cross by Willian that causes a bad start from Rulli, who intercepts Pau's clearance that almost ended in an own goal. Villarreal is destabilized in these final minutes, in which Arsenal is reaching their area with great danger.
FACT: Villarreal have passed 15 of their 16 two-legged ties in European competition in which they won the first leg. The only exception was in the 2015/16 UEFA Europa League semi-final, when they lost to Liverpool in the first match.
Lacazette's offensive foul, who tried to scissor it from the ground, but ended up fouling Albiol.
Kieran Tierney also leaves the playing field and Willian enters.
Double offensive change from Arsenal! Aubameyang leaves and Lacazette enters.
TO THE STICK AUBAMEYANG! A very dangerous move by Arsenal that starts from a center by Bellerín from the right, Auba heads off, the ball runs into the right post of Rulli's goal, who makes a threat to clear it and it is Albiol who has to clear it in line of goal to avoid the so much of the forward of the Arsenal. How close Arsenal has been to scoring, suffering Villarreal.
Shot wide deflected from the edge of Martinelli's area after a corner kick from Arteta's!
Arsenal now has possession, which has been appearing in the Villarreal area with assiduity and danger for a few minutes. The yellow submarine retreats, suffering those of Emery, aware that a goal from the Gunners leaves them out of the final.
Holding again putting Villarreal in trouble! Pépé crossed it from the right and Rob Holding finished in the center of the area with the ball leaving the right post of Rulli's goal.
Thomas' shot from outside the area that Villarreal has to clear! There will be a corner kick in favor of the Gunners.
Change at Villarreal! Forward by forward and it is Alcácer who leaves and Bacca who will have 20 minutes to try to open the scoring.
UP HOLDING! The lateral foul that Saka bounces from the corner, practically, the Holding header, although it came very forced and the ball ends up losing over Rulli's goal.
Dangerous lateral foul in favor of Arsenal after a foul by Coquelin on Saka in the baseline. Arteta's team will try with a set piece.
Good pressure from Alcácer, who is going to press up on Leno and causes the error of the Arsenal goalkeeper, who slips and has to look for chestnuts to prevent the forward Groguet from scoring the first of the match.
Villarreal maintains possession, continues with its dominance of the match.
FACT: Nicolas Pépé has had 10 UEFA Europa League goals this season (6 goals, 4 assists), more than any other player.
The first change (not required) of the match is made: Odegaard leaves for the Gunners and Martinelli enters the field of play.
It seems that the yellow submarine is back in control of the match after Arsenal's brilliant start, which had two very clear chances, the first by Pépé and the second by Smith-Rowe, both from the left side of the area. Emery's team entered the second half knocked out, but it seems that it is rebuilding. The marker is still very narrow.
The match resumes, when it seems that Arteta will be the first to move the bench! Martinelli prepares to enter the green.
The match continues after the clash between Alcácer and Marí, in which it seems that the Spanish defender of Arsenal bends his ankle.
Pablo Marí is lying on the ground after a duel with Paco Alcácer. The medical assistants enter the lawn.
Both teams have opened and the meeting is now gaining more dynamism in both areas.
He had to put the glove Leno on! There will be a corner kick for Emery's men after the Arsenal goalkeeper had to stretch after a Yeremi Pino cross shot from the area. Villarreal is encouraged after a long possession in the Gunners area.
Possession now for Villarreal, who is interested in lowering the revolutions of an Arsenal that has come out with everything in this second half.
Pépé tried again with a cross from the left, but Rulli advanced his position well to catch the ball. Minutes committed for Villarreal.
How soft was Gerard's shot! Villarreal now had it, Trigueros reaches the front of the area, combines for Gerard, who cuts, but puts together a very loose and centered shot that Leno catches without complications.
Both players recover and the match is resumed at the Emirates.
Encontronazo between the heads of Mario Gaspar and Nicolas Pépé, the game stops while the medical assistance comes in. Villarreal get some oxygen again after an Arsenal entry into this second half that is compromising the Groguets.
FORGIVE SMITH-ROWE! A very bad start by Rulli that gives Smith-Rowe a lot of room to control on the left and to put together a chopped shot that brushes the post and that Pépé almost combed at the far post. Villarreal having a bad time now.
It is now lost by Yeremi Pino on the side, Villarreal cannot keep possession, in the most dangerous minutes of Arsenal in everything we have been in the game. Let's remember that a goal gets them into the final in Gdansk, due to the away goal they scored at La Cerámica.
NICOLAS PÉPÉ! Shot crossed with the left from the left side of the area that brushes the left post of Rulli's goal. First great arrival of Arsenal, which has gone into the second half biting and putting the groguets on the ropes.
Rulli has to clear his head after a loan, as Saka was coming down the right with a lot of danger.
START THE SECOND HALF IN THE EMIRATES!
First half in the Emirates without much to stand out, apart from the fact that both teams have come out with a clear approach of pressing the ball out, which has prevented both teams from being able to deploy in attack with ease, fluidity and danger. Both defenders, attentive, although there have been moments of imprecations on both sides. Villarreal had some attempt to get ahead on the scoreboard, a shot by Chukwueze (who was injured and had to be replaced by Yeremi Pino), a shot by Parejo that brushed the crossbar after a free-kick and a shot of Gerard that almost got Pablo Marí in his own goal. For Arsenal, the clearest was Aubameyang twice, first with a shot from the right that hit the post, and later with an identical play from the left that Rulli had to stop in two halves, but that was missed. It trickled down his legs and almost compromised his team. That said, the game we have experienced in these first 45 minutes is stuck and without too many clear actions. Villarreal are comfortable, they have not been in too much trouble, but the result is very close and a goal from Arsenal would take them straight to the final in Gdansk.
FINAL IN THE EMIRATES! It remains 0-0 in the light after a smooth first half between Arsenal and Villarreal.
3 extra minutes on the Emirates!
FACT: Gerard Moreno has scored or assisted in each of his seven UEFA Europa League starters this season (6 goals, 3 assists), with only one player doing so in more games consecutively in the same season since 2009 / 10 (Willian – 9 with Chelsea on 18/19).
Two consecutive corners for the groguets that end in nothing, but minutes of greater dominance for the yellow submarine, who has managed to keep the ball in the opponent's area for longer.
CORNER FOR THE VILLARREAL! Pablo Marí almost messed it up, putting the ball into his own goal with a rebound that was poisoned after a shot from outside the area by Gerard.
RULLI! Very powerful shot from Aubameyang, who was heeling on the left side of the area, the Villarreal goalkeeper stops it, it slips between his legs and he has to stretch to prevent that ball from opening the scoreboard at the Emirates. The doorman almost messed it up.
Villarreal's ball does not last very long when he comes out with the ball in play: Emery's team sinning inaccurately.
Mario Gaspar is wrong! The groguet player manages to strike down the left, he leaves everyone to enter the area, but when he has to decide what to do he makes a mistake, he does not delay the area for Gerard and makes a terrible cross that Leno ends up catching without complications.
Good move now from Villarreal, Pau Torres joins up on the right side to pass from Gerard after a Villarreal steal, but Holding clears with his heel.
FACT: Only three Arsenal players have scored more goals in the same season in a major European competition than Nicolas Pépé, 6 in 2020/21 (Ian Wright – 9 in 94/95, Thierry Henry – 8 in 99/20 , 7 on 02/01 and 03/02, and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – 8 on 18/19).
Chukwueze leaves on a stretcher and is very sore! Emery is forced to move and Samu will be replaced by Yeremi Pino.
Chukwueze is laying the grass, he can't seem to go on! Enter the medical assistance.
TO THE STICK! Aubameyang receives in the area after a poor clearance by Parejo with his leg and finishes first with the outside. The shot touches the right post of Rulli's goal. Very clear the one that the Arteta group has had.
Beware, danger! Saka filters a ball into the area, Smith-Rowe controls it with his heel and his back and it is Tierney who ends the play with a long shot from outside the area that goes wide. It is costing the Gunners a life to enter the area and create danger.
SKIPPING THE STRIP! Parejo's shot did not catch the thread well and ends up going over the crossbar of Leno's goal.
Very clear lack of Partey on Parejo on the edge of the area. Dangerous set piece chance for Emery's men.
Pedraza center from the left that Holding manages to clear.
The game is still locked when we almost reach the halfway point of the game. Villarreal have had two shots, one of them between the three sticks, while Arsenal have not yet wet in the rival goal.
Smith-Rowe tried to bring danger closer to Villarreal's area with a cross from the left that Albiol cleared. The Arteta set does not find spaces or options to put together the auction.
Rulli puts his fist in after the corner kick and allows Villarreal to try a counter that ends up not coming out. The fight continues in the center of the field.
There will be a corner in favor of Arsenal, Saka beats Pedraza, who sends the ball through the end line.
Villarreal tries! Trigueros tried to filter the pass into the area looking for Alcácer, but the ball went with great speed and the forward Groguet did not get to connect with the play.
He almost committed Partey to Arsenal with a very questionable pass to Leno! Both teams having pass problems due to rival pressure. Inaccuracies also from Villarreal in the center of the field.
Arsenal, also biting the groguets when they have to start with a play from their goal. At the moment, the pressure from both teams is the clearest play we can get out of this game.
Villarreal presses the exit of the Arsenal ball, Gerard almost manages to steal the ball from the right side of the area, but Leno regains position and avoids disaster.
First ten minutes of the match at the Emirates, both teams respecting each other and without too many shocks at the Emirates. Quiet in London reigns, and both teams are aware that they are playing a ticket to the final of the Europa League in Gdansk.
Both sets, folding quickly and preventing the rival from being able to combine quickly and effectively in the last three quarters of the court.
First bars of the first half, and it is the groguets who dominate with the ball.
YOU HAVE TO REMOVE YOUR HAND LENO! Chukwueze was encouraged from the right side with a cross shot that poisons and forces the Arsenal goalkeeper to stretch to prevent the ball from entering the right post of his goal. Villarreal's first great arrival of the match.
First corner kick in favor of Arsenal. It was crossed by the Gunner team, but the ball was safe in the area and Villarreal regained possession.
There is a last minute change in the Arsenal lineup! Xhaka is injured in the warm-up and it is Tierney who will occupy the left back. Arteta comes out with a defense of four: Bellerín on the right, Holding, Marí and Tierney on the left.
THE MEETING BEGINS IN THE EMIRATES!
The Europa League anthem sounds! 90, 120 or penalties is what separates Villarreal from its first continental final.
The 22 protagonists jump onto the Emirates lawn, accompanied by the referee team! The referee of the contest will be Slavko Vincic.
5. Arsenal have lost only one of their 11 knockout games against Spanish rivals at home (7W 3E), with that defeat in February 2016 against Barcelona in the knockout stages of the Champions League (0-2).
4. Villarreal is undefeated in 13 games in European competition (12V 1E), winning each of their last nine and losing for the last time in April 2019 (0-2 vs Valencia in the second leg of the quarterfinals in Europe League).
3. Arsenal have not won any of their last two home games in European competition (1E 1D) after winning 11 of the previous 13. The Gunners hope to avoid three straight at home without winning in Europe for the first time since September 2003 (6 games).
2. Villarreal have passed 15 of their 16 two-legged ties in European competition in which they won the first leg. The only exception was in the 2015/16 UEFA Europa League semi-final, when they lost to Liverpool in the first match.
1. Arsenal have overcome each of their last two European qualifiers in the first leg (0-1 vs BATE Borisov in February 2019 in the UEFA Europa League and 1-3 against Rennes in March 2019 in the same competition ) after doing it only two times out of the previous 17.
Let's go with some data prior to the start of the duel!
On the Villarreal bench: Asenjo, Funes Mori, Bacca, Dani Raba, Estupiñán, Alberto Moreno, Rubén Peña, Jaume Costa, Moi Gómez, Yeremi Pino, Álex Baena and Fer Niño.
In addition to Foyth and Capoue, Emery will not be able to count on Iborra either. The yellow submarine comes with the wind in its favor after also winning in its domestic LaLiga commitment against Getafe last Sunday, a victory that keeps it in sixth place and with clear options to play the Europa League next season, at the expense of what happens in this meeting and the subsequent final.
Villarreal also makes two changes with respect to La Cerámica's line-up, both due to the losses of Foyth (injury) and Capoue (sanction). Mario Gaspar will occupy the right wing in place of the Argentine and Coquelin will replace Capoue's loss in the midfield. Thus, Emery bets on: Rulli; Gaspar, Albiol, Pau Torres, Pedraza; Chukwueze, Coquelin, Dani Parejo, Manu Trigueros; and Gerard Moreno and Paco Alcácer at the top.
Thus, on the Gunner bench: Kieran Tierney, Gabriel, Lacazette, Willian, Cédric Soares, Calum Chambers, Reis Nelson, Mohamed Elneny, Nketiah, Mat Ryan, Martinelli and Arthur Okonkwo.
The casualties for Arsenal are, in addition to Ceballos (due to suspension due to being sent off in the first leg), David Luiz due to injury (he played a few minutes against Newcastle last weekend, but relapsed again and will not be able to play tonight on the Emirates). Arteta recovers Lacazette and Kieran Tierney on the bench, and also Aubameyang, who not only starts as a starter, but has just scored a goal in last Sunday's victory against Newcastle.
Arsenal make two changes with respect to the eleven that started as a starter at La Cerámica. The loss of Ceballos makes Aubameyang leave as an offensive reference, Smith-Rowe will form double pivot with Partey and Bellerín will be the right back, replacing Calum Chambers. Thus, Arteta dates: Leno; Bellerín, Holding, Marí, Xhaka; Partey, Smith-Rowe; Saka, Odegaard, Pépé in the midfield and Auba in the lead.
We already have confirmed lineups from both teams!
Emery already knows what it is to win the Europa League and also has extensive experience of European finals played on his resume: he was the architect of the three Europa League that Sevilla won in 2014, 2015 and 2016; and also reached the final of the continental competition with Arsenal in the 2018/19 season.
Regarding his past as a gunner coach, Emery said that “Arsenal is a closed stage and I only have gratitude towards them.” The Basque was dismissed from the London club in 2019, but his knowledge of the club may be key to the tie.
“I think Arsenal was the favorite and we as candidates, I think the result of the first leg does not change the idea,” said Emery at a press conference. “I tell people that we will play with pride and that we will defend a story as beautiful as It is Villarreal's “, he added, but not before making it clear what the great threat will be for his 'groguets' tonight:” Aubameyang is a killer and will always be so. If he is in a good moment it is very difficult to stop “.
The good news for Villarreal is that Arsenal, who started the competition like a shot by winning all their group stage matches, have lost or drawn one of the two games (first leg or return) since that stage of the competition ended.
ESTRELLA PÉPÉ: Nicolas Pépé, the scorer of the controversial penalty that gave his team more oxygen for tonight's game, is doing well in the Europa League. He has played nine of the 13 games for his team this season in continental competition (while in Premier he has only played in 13 games of the 34 played to date) and has scored or assisted in eight of the nine Europa League games that have contested (minus Arsenal's 4-1 win over Rapid Vienna). With a participation of 10 goals in the competition (6 goals and four assists), the Gunner player has the best numbers in front of goal in the entire competition.
Arteta declared at a press conference that his Arsenal have “to accept the challenge and the opportunity that lie ahead. I think this is the 10th time the club has been to a European semi-final, so it doesn't happen very often. We have to seize the opportunity tomorrow and earn the right to be in the final, “he said. The good news for the Gunners' Spanish manager is that he has Pépé who performs better in Europe than in the Premier League.
Interestingly, the last final in a continental competition that the Gunners played was with Emery as their coach, that of the 2018/19 Europa League, now on the opposite side of the bench and looking to make history with the 'groguets'. If Arsenal lost the return, they would be left without European football for the first time in 25 years.
The 'groguets' start with an advantage in the duel after the 2-1 harvested in the first leg, of course, Emery faces two important losses: the first due to Capoue's red card and the second due to Foyth's injury. The submarine players managed to make it 2-0 on the scoreboard, but a dubious and criticized penalty against Saka by Nicolas Pepé managed to give the Gunners an important goal away from home that could be decisive for tonight's match at the Emirates , a stadium where the Arteta team has shown its best side.
Those of Emery want to sneak into the final on May 26 at the Arena in Gdansk and for this they will have to face the return at the Emirates Stadium against Arsenal whose only opportunities to play in Europe next season are to lift this continental trophy . With nothing to do in the Premier, and away from the qualifying places for the Champions and Europa League, the Gunners are planted in their fiefdom to thoroughly fight their last options to play the continental competitions.
Up to four previous occasions the Castellón team has tried it: in the semi-finals of the UEFA Cup against regional rival, Valencia (2003-04); in the 2005/06 Champions League against his rival tonight, Arsenal, a meeting of which he does not keep great memories; in the Europa League against Porto in the 2010/11 season and the last time they came close to reaching the final step was against Liverpool in 2015/16.
Villarreal faces a key night that could give them, not only a ticket to the final of the Europa League, but also what would be the first continental final in their history as a club.
Good evening and welcome back to the semifinals between Arsenal and Villarreal, which can be a glorious day for the yellow submarine when it comes to continental competitions!