Arsenal 0-0 Villarreal: Match Report, Highlights

Arsenal played a 0-0 stalemate against Villarreal leading to the English side being knocked out 1-2 on aggregate.

The hosts can only have themselves to blame as they needed only a goal to progress but couldn’t break down former boss Unai Emery’s side.

Emery won the tactical battle against his successor, keeping his side defensively disciplined and making things hard for their hosts.

The result effectively ends Arsenal’s season and their Champions League hopes.

However, for Villarreal, the win means they have reached the final of a major European competition for the very first time, having been eliminated from each of their previous four semi-finals. They will face United in Gdansk’s Stadion Miejski on 26 May.

Match report

Both sides had a handful of chances. Aubameyang came close in the first half but his attempt hit the bar.

There was a brief stoppage in play as Nigeria International Samuel Chukwueze had to be stretchered off after going down. The incident happened off the ball and he didn’t seem to have come in contact with any player.

Minutes after play resumed, Aubameyang came close to scoring again after being fed by Smith-Rowe. However, the Gabonese’s shot was saved by the keeper.

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The second half started like the first one ended with both sides having half chances they failed to covert.

Arsenal had the lion share of chances but were let down by the finish.

With 10 minutes left of the game, Arsenal came closest to taking the lead following a swift counter attack, Aubameyang rose highest to connect with the cross from Bellerin but his header hit the inside the bar, ricochet against the Roma goalkeeper and was eventually cleared by Albiol.

The visitors remained defensively solid for the remaining minutes to secure the draw.

“We tried everything until the last minute,” Arteta told BT Sport.

“We have to congratulate Villarreal. I think we deserved to win the game but the details define these ties. We had three big chances, they didn’t have anything but they are through.

“We are devastated. Really disappointed,” he added.

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