Arsenal's Europa league semi-final performance leaves more questions than answers
Arsenal's 2-1 defeat to Villarreal in the semi-finals of the Europa League leaves us with more questions than answers
By Adam Le Roux
Well, that was a rocky ride wasn’t it, Arsenal fans?
After heading into the Europa League semi-final with bags of optimism, the Gunners were brought back down to Earth with a bump within the opening five minutes at El Madrigal, as Manuel Trigueros rifled home Villarreal.
And when Raul Albiol made it two on the half-hour mark, it looked like it was going to be a long evening for Mikel Arteta’s side, who struggled to get out of first gear for much of the first half.
Then as if things couldn’t get any worse, Dani Ceballos was shown a second yellow card 12 minutes after the break - and with a two-goal deficit and being a man light, we were all left fearing the worst for the last 30 minutes of play in Spain.
But this Arsenal side proved how much character they have gathered compared to the flaky side at the beginning of the season, as they clawed themselves back into the game from the penalty spot, with Nicolas Pepe converting from 12 yards to set up a grandstand second leg at the Emirates next week.
It was a performance that probably left more questions than answers, but with that crucial away goal in the bag, there is still optimism that the Gunners can reach the final for the second time in three years.
Granit has a hard night at the back
There are many things that Granit Xhaka is, but after last night’s showing it looks as if left-back is certainly not one of them.
With Kieran Tierney still deemed not fit enough to play, the left side of defence is looking ropey at this moment of time, and that weakness was exposed straight away by Villarreal, as they took an early lead in Thursday’s affair.
The Swiss star looked perplexed as the yellow shirts came flying out the blocks in the early stages, and it was his inability to stop Samuel Chukwueze’s burst into the box that saw Trigueros gifted the opportunity to open the scoring - and he made no mistake.
As much as you can’t blame the central midfielder for failing to slot in on the left side of defence, you have to look at Arteta’s decision to stick him in the side when Gabriel, David Luiz and Cedric Soares are all sat on the bench.
Although none are primarily suited to the left-back role, their ability to snuff out danger would have surely helped out in that situation and the danger could easily have been avoided.
Was that the time for a false nine?
As soon as you saw the team sheets emerging from El Madrigal it looked as if Arsenal were going to up against it, with no recognised striker in the starting XI.
With Pepe and Bukayo Saka patrolling the flanks, it was up to Emile Smith Rowe to occupy the role of false nine, which he did admirably but ultimately to no avail.
The academy graduate worked his socks off - as he always does - but the end product from all three of the frontline was ultimately lacking, with the killer pass eluding them throughout, with Martin Odegaard failing to stamp his authority on the game from the advanced midfield position.
Time and time again the Gunners looked to have a break down either flank, whether it be Saka or Pepe, or Calum Chambers overlapping on the right-hand side, but the ball into the box always seemed to be lacking, and that predator inside the box nowhere to be seen.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang did come on in the closing stages to offer an out-and-out striking option, and could have drawn Arsenal level soon after, as he was played in perfectly by Thomas Partey.
The Gabonese international turned his man on the edge of the penalty area, but a costly slip as he made contact with the ball saw Geronimo Rulli bat the ball away for a corner.
Ultimately, the fact that the Gunners were gifted a way back into the tie from the penalty spot was a blessing that they probably didn’t deserve, but despite a faltering performance up top, the tie is still very much in the balance heading into next week’s rematch.
Gunners showed guts to battle back
Arsenal looked a beaten and dejected side heading into the changing rooms at the break, having been outplayed from start to finish by their opponents - with damage limitation looking to be the name of the game in the second half.
But whatever was said at the break seemed to work, as the visitors came out fighting and full of energy once the game got back underway.
And even after Ceballos’ misdemeanour, Arteta deserves credit for throwing Gabriel Martinelli into the mix, with the Brazilian’s willingness to chase lost causes and hustle defenders making a world of difference in the final third.
Alas, Arsenal were also given a helping hand from an old face in the dugouts, with former boss Unai Emery opting to take off the threatening Paco Alcacer at half-time and replace him with former Gunner Francis Coquelin.
Take nothing away from the ex-Arsenal midfielder, but his introduction saw the tide shift in the game, with Emery looking to shut up shop and cling on to the two-goal advantage.
How often had we seen that during his time as Arsenal boss? The Gunners firing themselves into a healthy advantage before clinging on by the end of the game rather than go for the jugular.
And here it was happening again, but this time Arsenal were the beneficiaries - an antithetical performance to when the Spaniard was at the helm at the Emirates.
Even a man light the Arsenal pressure was being ramped up, and from trying to limit the damage of the defeat on their travels, they were fighting tooth and nail to try to rescue an unlikely equaliser.
Overall, it may not have been the best performance on Thursday night, but that isn’t what is remembered in the history books, only the result, and a 2-1 defeat isn’t the end of the world - with the Gunners sure to be fired up for the return leg.
Despite looking toothless up front there is hope in seeing Aubameyang return to the field in the closing stages, because the frontman will be desperately needed to produce the goods next week, with Arsenal’s season hanging in the balance.
Photo Credit: Getty Images
