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May 7, 2021 Villareal Through To First Europa League Final At The Expense Of Arsenal

Villareal Through To First Europa League Final At The Expense Of Arsenal

Arsenal's Europa League hopes were dashed as Villarreal sealed a semi-final victory that will almost certainly end the Gunners' unbroken 25-season run of appearing in European competition.

Trailing 2-1 from the first leg in Spain and knowing that victory in this tournament represented their only realistic route back into the Champions League, Mikel Arteta's side could not find a way past the visitors' steadfast defensive lineup.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang struck the post with a volley but it was a rare moment of threat in a display strangely passive for large parts.

Nicolas Pepe and Emile Smith Rowe both fired efforts wide early in the second half and Aubameyang hit the post again with a downward header later in the game, but such moments were few and far between.

That the defeat came at the hands of former boss Unai Emery will be especially disappointing for the Gunners. Emery was sacked in November 2019 after 18 months in charge, ultimately leading to the appointment of Arteta.

With Manchester United seeing off Roma in the other semi-final and Chelsea and Manchester City into the Champions League final, Arsenal's loss ruins hopes of a Premier League clean sweep of European competitions this season.

Villarreal will face United in Gdansk's Stadion Miejski on 26 May.

 

April 30, 2021 Pepe’s Away Goal Gives Arsenal Hope In Europa League Semi

Pepe’s Away Goal Gives Arsenal Hope In Europa League Semi

Nicolas Pepe's second-half penalty gave Arsenal renewed hope of reaching the Europa League final despite a semi-final first-leg loss at Villarreal as both sides finished with 10 men.

With the Gunners trailing 2-0 and a man down following Dani Ceballos' sending off, Pepe stepped up and fired home a precious away goal from the spot after Bukayo Saka had been tripped in the box.

It means Mikel Arteta's side go into next Thursday's second leg with genuine hope of reaching a second Europa League final in three seasons and with the potential of qualifying for next season's Champions League.

They appeared to be sinking without trace when Manu Trigueros fired in an early low, angled drive for the home side before Raul Albiol slammed home at the back post following Gerard Moreno's flick-on from a corner.

Ceballos' red card with 30 minutes left, courtesy of a second booking for standing on the boot of Daniel Parejo, looked to have sealed their fate.

But Bernd Leno produced two good saves to keep the home side at bay before Pepe - playing as a false nine - had his say.

Villarreal may still have fancied their chances of scoring again, but this was hampered when they too were reduced to 10 men, as Etienne Capoue shown a second yellow for a late tackle on Saka.

The 'Yellow Submarine', managed by ex-Gunners Unai Emery, will go into the second leg on top, but facing the prospect that just one unanswered concession will send them out.

 

April 9, 2021 Man Utd Earn First Leg Win In Granada

Man Utd Earn First Leg Win In Granada

Manchester United took a big step towards the Europa League semi-finals with an away win over Granada in the first leg of their last-eight tie.

Marcus Rashford put United ahead when he superbly collected Victor Lindelof's long pass and slid a finish past home goalkeeper Rui Silva.

Yangel Herrera, on loan from Manchester City, hit the outside of the post for the Spanish side and ex-Tottenham striker Roberto Soldado also fired wide.

United doubled their lead late on when Bruno Fernandes squeezed a penalty past Silva after Yan Brice fouled the Portuguese midfielder.

The second leg is at Old Trafford in a week's time with the aggregate winners advancing to a semi-final against either Ajax or Roma, with the Italian side leading that tie 2-1 after the first leg in the Netherlands.

United have now only lost one of their past 17 matches in all competitions, but will be without midfielder Scott McTominay, left-back Luke Shaw and central defender Harry Maguire for the second leg as they will all be suspended after picking up bookings in Spain.

March 19, 2021 Mourinho Apologizes To Fans Following Spurs’ Europa League Exit

Mourinho Apologizes To Fans Following Spurs’ Europa League Exit

Jose Mourinho apologized to the Tottenham fans and said his players failed "at the basics of life" after they threw away a 2-0 lead to be knocked out of the Europa League by Dinamo Zagreb.

A second-leg display described as "diabolical" and "a disaster" by their ex-player and manager Glenn Hoddle saw Spurs eliminated in the last 16 in Croatia after extra time.

A hat-trick from Mislav Orsic did the damage, reversing the comfortable lead Mourinho's side had built in last week's first leg, prompting Spurs goalkeeper Hugo Lloris to call the performance a "disgrace".

"They [Dinamo] left to sweat, energy, blood. In the end, they left even tears of happiness," Mourinho told BT Sport. "They were very humble and committed. I have to praise them.

"On the other side, my team - I repeat, my team - didn't look like it was playing an important match. If for any one of them it is not important, for me it is.

"I am disappointed for a difference of attitude of one team to another. I feel sorry that my team is the team that didn't bring to the game, not just the basics of football but the basics of life, which is to respect our jobs and to give everything.

"I can only apologize to the Tottenham supporters. I hope they feel the same way I feel. Today is live or die - and at this moment, we die."

Resting on their 2-0 first-leg lead, Tottenham looked relatively comfortable for just over an hour in Zagreb, until Orsic's first goal began to swing the tie away from them.

He leveled the tie with eight minutes of normal time left and then won it for his side early in the second period of extra time.

Tottenham forced two good saves from home goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic late in the game but it was too little, too late.

 

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