Villareal hosted Arsenal for their first leg of the Europa League semi-final. Arsenal left Spain in pain but can console themselves with the away goal they scored on the night. Unai Emery facing his former Arsenal side with his new club, Villareal.
It took Villareal just 5 minutes to get the lead when Chukwueze tried to wriggle his way inside the box but the ball came into the path of Manu Trigueros who blasted his shot into the back of the net, 1-0. Great start for Villareal. Leno was helpless to stop Manu Trigueros' shot despite the player only scoring just once all season before this goal.
In the 24th minute, Saka tried a curling effort with the hope of getting the top right-hand corner of the post but his effort went off it. In the 29th minute, an inswinging corner was delivered into the box and a flick header was done into the path of Raúl Albiol. The former Real Madrid man wasted no time in guiding the ball into the back of the net to give his side a healthy 2 goals cushion.
Moreno should have given his side a 3rd in the 33rd minute when he miscued his shot at the edge of the box. The ball went flying way off the target.
Arsenal thought they had gotten a lifeline in the 34th minute when a long pass from Xhaka found Pepe. Pepe's leg was intertwined with Foyth and Pepe stumbled over. The referee gave the penalty and a yellow card to Foyth but VAR was consulted and it showed Pepe handled the ball. The yellow card was rescinded and a penalty was not given.
Just before halftime, Moreno was played through and despite rounding up the goalkeeper he knocked the ball too far from his reach and the ball went out much to the relief of Arsenal players.
The half time came and Villareal raced to a 2 goal lead leaving Arsenal with no shot on target. The second half started with former Arsenal player; Coquelin facing his old side after being introduced into the fray.
Arsenal played on the front foot for most of the second half and just 2 minutes into the second half, Pepe's sidefooted effort was nullified inside the box which could have given Arsenal a good start. It moved from bad to worse for Arsenal as Dani Ceballos received his second yellow card of the night in the 57th minute as he was sent for an early shower after a clumsy challenge.
Chukwueze forced a save from Leno in the 60th minute inside the box. Let's prevented Moreno again in the 64th minute when he was one on one with the goalkeeper. Rather than find an angle, he opted to go for power and he shot straight at the goalkeeper.
Arsenal got themselves back into the tie in the 72nd minute when Saka was brought down in the box. The referee gave a penalty kick and Pepe stepped in to take it. He struck the ball down the middle while the keeper went to the left, 2-1 - game on.
Former Tottenham and Watford man; Étienne Capoue received his marching orders too for a second bookable offence as he received his second yellow card of the night to draw the game level on numbers; 10 men against 10 men.
The game ended 2-1 in favour of Villareal but Arsenal can take solace in the fact that their away goal was vital ahead of the second leg encounter. Arsenal would have to be at their best if they want to get into the final.
Thank you for your time.
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