Arsenal vs Villarreal: Bukayo Saka rescues Arteta disasterplan

Mikel Arteta can leave this sleepy Spanish town counting his lucky stars that Arsenal somehow salvaged a 2-1 scoreline from their Europa League first leg semi-final clash with Villarreal on Thursday.

A team selection that baffled, not from personnel, but from system, was the riskiest – ballsiest, if you like – move a manager facing the biggest game of his short career could make. He entrusted a group of players to operate in a manner they hadn’t done under his tenure.

It didn’t work. It was a disaster.

Without a recognised centre-forward in the side, Emile Smith Rowe occupied that space. He looked lost, unaware of his task and unsure of the spaces to pick up. He can’t be blamed.

Arsenal vs Villarreal: Bukayo Saka rescues Mikel Arteta tactical disasterplan as Europa League dreams remain vaguely alive

Villarreal’s centre-back pairing of Pau Torres and Raul Albiol were able to coast through a first half without breaking a sweat, and the mismanaged press granted Juan Foyth the freedom to run beyond an even slower opponent in Dani Ceballos, freeing Arsenal’s left flank.

Granit Xhaka found himself covering Samuel Chukwueze, the same battle that didn’t take a master tactician to foresee being exploited, resulting in an unbalanced and horrible exposed opening 45 minutes.

Arteta has many admirers and many critics. A large contingent will have shifted to the latter troupe after not just witnessing the masterplan unfold, but see it left to fester. Ceballos, who maxed out on his half-decent performances this season, was at sixes and sevens and, crucially, on a yellow card.

Is it pride? An arrogance in his ways that limits his rational thinking? The midfielder was never going to last the full whistle, be it a substitution or sending off. It may have been harsh but the red card was an inevitability etched across the advertising boards of Estadio de la Ceramica.

Two goals down and a man down, the tie could have been effectively written off there.

But Arteta has a trick up his sleeve. Not one he cunningly fashioned of his own doing. On the contrary, one that rescued his failed tactical approach and insistence not to amend the errors on the pitch: Bukayo Saka.

Once again the 19-year-old proved he carries more than just the ball. A second half showing full of endeavour and energy won the penalty, saw the game leveled out and disrupted the Villarreal defence for the first time. His presence has salvaged hope.

Not alone on his one-man quest, Nicolas Pepe put in an outstanding shift. The Ivorian showed nerves of steel for the penalty, but stood him apart was that he never dropped his head nor went down a gear: he worked tirelessly in every third. In need of commending, too, is Bernd Leno, for what may still prove to be a defining ave.

Arteta got it wrong on Thursday. Horribly wrong. This was on him, from the first minute to the last.

By the grace of certain individuals, the sinking submarine that is Arsenal’s season may just be a faintly visible yellow from the surface. Villarreal may have a foot in the final, but they’re not totally out of sight.