Pépé punctures a balloon of euphoria

Villarreal behaved for 72 minutes, without being it yet, like a winning team whose showcases already fall short. He delivered a coup of authority for much of the game with greatness, based on effectiveness, solidity and enthusiasm, which brought him closer to the first final in his history. The goals of Trigueros, just starting, and that of Albiol, in a corner, triggered at times the state of euphoria in a town with capital football, cornering Arsenal and forcing Arteta to put candles on Lacazette and Aubameyang for the return. But in qualifying rounds of this caliber, details matter and resurrections are trending. A penalty that did not go from Trigueros to Saka in the 73rd minute was transformed by Pépé, when he played with one less for Ceballos sent off for a double yellow (44 'and 57'). The Submarine went from chasing the sentence to taking refuge in a cave.

Emery opted for his gala eleven at this point, which has varied with respect to the start of the season in two details: Foyth's entry for Mario, wherever they claim him, and Chukwueze's for Moi, in any sector in which he is demand your blessed overflow. If the Argentine's contribution was overwhelming from the side, the Nigerian's was key at the end to fix a butter defense. The two of them cooked the 1-0 (5 ') in which Trigueros obeyed with his right what his soul dictated impulsively.

The 4-4-2, which mutates in attack into an asymmetric 4-3-3 because Gerard lives to Mediterranean, He again showed the automatisms that the Hondarribia technician has finally managed to institutionalize. Arteta, for his part, aired with his blurred system that he has reached this tie with a better bench than eleven starters. And that is a lot to say. In this round there were substitutes Bellerín, David Luiz and Willian, in addition to the headdresses … The cañí fan thanked him. Arsenal's internal problems, between injuries and malaria, returned the focus to old acquaintances such as Ceballos, who lives in continuous vindication, and to Odegaard, who is struggling in the Premier between consolidating his enormous talent in the elite, to return through the big door to Madrid, or to go linking assignments while that divine precocity that catapulted him evaporates. The two left hints of their quality, as well as details of their lack of leadership. The expulsion of Ceballos, which could have come even earlier, can cost him fame.

The tension was palpable from the start. Villarreal, seventh in the league, and Arsenal, tenth in England, have this competition as a shortcut to the Champions League that has disappeared so stumblingly on weekends. And to that hopeful option we must add the activation that supposes the local illusion to collect the revenge of 2006 and the need for Arsenal to return to being who they were. Stress was chewed and the pace was dizzying. Villarreal took advantage of the pause of Pau and Parejo at the start and their biting pressure. This is how he ended up pushing his opponent when he insisted on possession. As a result of that confidence, the Submarine firmly planted itself in Leno's area, which he beat again in the 29th minute with a corner kick thrown by Parejo, combed by Gerard and pushed by quarterback Albiol.

The Arsenal snorted. His midfield, overflowing, was made of plasterboard. I left and couldn't find space to gallop. And the party was crying out for Martinelli to disturb, at least, in the final meters. Arteta did not dare to take the step. He waited for a stroke of magic or fortune to get him into the game. And intuition almost brings it to life. The referee pointed out a penalty from Foyth to Pepé (34 ’) that the VAR was in charge of reversing by previous hand in the oriented control. That is why technology appeared in our lives: to impart justice where it was not applied.

With the scare in the body, Villarreal went to rest, where Emery found himself with the umpteenth ailment of Alcácer. He did not flinch. Where everyone saw a serious problem, he found a magnificent (?) Opportunity. Coquelin, an ex, came out for him on a mission to reinforce midfield. There were less expert but more cheerful options. Arsenal came back somewhat angry and transformed that energy into offensive insistence. Until the bad mood was unleashed with the strike de Ceballos, just when Arteta had designed his change. With that red, Arsenal fluctuated: from looking for the goal of hope to defending the one on the toe. The Submarine was eager to conserve income and launch threatening counterattacks. Chukwueze and Gerard were able to finish the job. It lacked freshness. Trigueros' penalty to Saka, avoidable and invented, fell from the sky and completely changed the landscape of the match and the future of a tie that Capoue, sent off, and Foyth, injured, will no longer be able to conclude.

Thus, for the moment, the difference is only reflected in the bookmakers. The second part of an epic battle remains. In London. Within seven days. And again without an audience in the stands. Although that will not prevent you from feeling again the heat and throats of a proud people. Those who live with the illusion of dreaming if on May 26 it will be time to look, and even travel, to Poland. As the message sent to the world on the canvas that presided over the first leg recalled, “it's his story, it's his dream, it's his moment.”

Changes

Coquelin (45 ', Alcacer), Martinelli (62 ', Odegaard), Mario (69 ', Juan Foyth), Alberto Moreno (79 ', Alfonso Pedraza), Moi gomez (80 ', Trigueros), Aubameyang (84 ', Bukayo Saka), Mohamed elneny (94 ', Emile Smith-Rowe), Willian (94 ', Nicolas Pepe)

Goals

1-0, 4 ': Trigueros, 2-0, 28 ': Albiol, 2-1, 72 ': Nicolas Pepe

Cards

Referee: Artur Manuel Soares Dias
VAR Referee: João Pinheiro
Pau Francisco Torres (36 ', Yellow) Dani ceballos (43 ', Yellow) Dani ceballos (56 ', Red) Thomas (57 ', Yellow) Capoue (66 ', Yellow) Capoue (79 ', Red) Aubameyang (89 ', Yellow