Pain in the Arsenal
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Arsenal: 4 talking points from Villarreal Europa League exit

By Ross Kennerley

LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 06: Nicolas Pepe of Arsenal looks dejected following the UEFA Europa League Semi-final Second Leg match between Arsenal and Villareal CF at Emirates Stadium on May 06, 2021 in London, England. Sporting stadiums around Europe remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 06: Nicolas Pepe of Arsenal looks dejected following the UEFA Europa League Semi-final Second Leg match between Arsenal and Villareal CF at Emirates Stadium on May 06, 2021 in London, England. Sporting stadiums around Europe remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images) /
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Arsenal, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Arsenal’s Gabonese striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2nd L) heads the ball against the post during the UEFA Europa League semi-final, 2nd leg football match between Arsenal and Villarreal at the Emirates Stadium in London on May 6, 2021. (Photo by Adrian DENNIS / AFP) (Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images) /

Woeful Attacking Output

Across 180+ minutes of football, Arsenal had three shots on target against Villarreal. Three.

Broken down, it reads even worse. Their first effort was Pepe’s penalty in the first leg. That came in the 73rd minute. Their next shot on target was in added time of that match, after a defence splitting pass from Partey.

Onto the next leg, one they had to win.

There was just one solitary shot on goal, against a Villarreal goalkeeper who looked desperately uncertain throughout. Aubameyang’s pop shot was straight at him and still he nearly fumbled it into his own net. He wasn’t tested once after that.

In a European semi-final, with the chance to secure a place in a one-off fixture to return back into the Champions League, that was all Arsenal could produce.

"“There were moments in the second half, we hit the post twice, then we had an empty goal to put the ball in the net,” Arteta told the official Arsenal website. “Small margins define these ties and today we came up short.”"

It’s as if he doesn’t think the other team exists. Is Unai Emery not allowed to speak the same way? Will he not point to two huge Gerard Moreno chances as moments where his side could have wrapped the tie up? It’s a detachment that worryingly continues to grow.

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