Arsenal: 4 talking points from Villarreal defeat

Arsenal left Estadio de le Ceramica with their Europa League ambitions in the balance after a 2-1 defeat against former manager Unai Emery’s Villarreal on Thursday. Here are the talking points.

While Mikel Arteta didn’t surprise anyone with the decision to change only one member of the lineup from the Premier League defeat to Everton, the system which he plumped for raised more than a few eyebrows.

Opting against fielding a recognised centre-forward and instead tasking Emile Smith Rowe with the striker duties, his efforts to out-think his opposite number drew widespread criticism.

Villarreal were comfortable throughout the opening 45 minutes as Arsenal’s left side of Granit Xhaka and Dani Ceballos was being painfully exposed, the area of the pitch that the hosts took advantage of after just five minutes.

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Arsenal: 4 talking points from Villarreal defeat in Europa League semi-final first leg

Samuel Chukwueze waltzed through Xhaka and Ceballos, before the ball fell to Manu Trigueros who drilled a low effort beyond Bernd Leno.

Unable to muster any grip on proceedings and left chasing shadows with spaces in between the lines frighteningly vast, Villarreal took a firm grip on the tie when some weak defending from a corner allowed Raul Albiol to slam home from close range at the back post.

The anti-tinker vs the over-tinker was laid bare at half-time as Emery made one substitution to Arteta’s none, despite the warning signs hanging over Dani Ceballos and balance issues within his team. Lo and behold, 13 minutes after the restart the Spaniard received his marching orders for a second booking, leaving Arsenal with a mountain to climb.

Willpower and determination from Bukayo Saka and Nicolas Pepe clawed Arsenal back into the game when the former won a penalty for the latter to convert and then Étienne Capoue’s embarrassing attempt to avoid a second yellow by feigning injury came to no avail as he too was sent off.

No further goals came but the task ahead is a perilous one, especially if a repeat performance follows.

Individuals Save the Day

This was not a managerial masterclass by any stretch of the imagination. Arteta’s system was like a cat seeing its reflection in the shadow, toying with himself in an effort to come out on top.

Plans don’t always work. Making a mistake is accepted, players do it all the time, but it’s how you respond to that. The issue with Arteta – perhaps it’s arrogance – is that he is so firm in his beliefs he can’t see the wood for the trees.

Everyone could see the system was playing into Villarreal’s hands and restricting Arsenal’s. He opted against changing it until it was too late, and his bacon was saved by individuals.

As alluded to, Pepe deserves immense credit for working his socks off all evening: chasing possession, providing an option in behind, covering Xhaka at full-back. While quality was lacking in certain areas and he should have done more with his chances against Juan Foyth, as far as effort goes, he may never have worked so hard.

Bernd Leno’s huge save at 2-0 has also kept this tie alive, while Saka’s bravery yet again was the shining beacon that has given Arsenal hope of progression.

The 19-year-old came alive in the second half, again lacking quality in certain areas, but using brawn to win the penalty, keep at Villarreal and make Arsenal competitive. Individuals saved the day.