Match ends, Villarreal 2, Arsenal 1.
VillarrealVillarreal2ArsenalArsenal1
Nicolas Pepe's second-half penalty gave Arsenal renewed hope of reaching the Europa League final despite a semi-final first-leg loss at Villarreal as both sides finished with 10 men.
With the Gunners trailing 2-0 and a man down following Dani Ceballos' sending off, Pepe stepped up and fired home a precious away goal from the spot after Bukayo Saka had been tripped in the box.
It means Mikel Arteta's side go into next Thursday's second leg with genuine hope of reaching a second Europa League final in three seasons and with the potential of qualifying for next season's Champions League.
They appeared to be sinking without trace when Manu Trigueros fired in an early low, angled drive for the home side before Raul Albiol slammed home at the back post following Gerard Moreno's flick-on from a corner.
Ceballos' red card with 30 minutes left, courtesy of a second booking for standing on the boot of Daniel Parejo, looked to have sealed their fate.
But Bernd Leno produced two good saves to keep the home side at bay before Pepe - playing as a false nine - had his say.
Villarreal may still have fancied their chances of scoring again, but this was hampered when they too were reduced to 10 men, as Etienne Capoue shown a second yellow for a late tackle on Saka.
- Best action and reaction from the Europa League, including Villarreal v Arsenal
- Springboard for Arteta or redemption for Emery - are things about to get worse for Arsenal?
More to follow.
How to play
Rate players out of 10 throughout or after the game. The rater will close 30 minutes after the final whistle.
Rating range key = Give it up = Pure perfection
Villarreal
Starting XI
Avg
- Squad number13Player nameRulliAverage rating
6.26
- Squad number8Player nameFoythAverage rating
7.06
- Squad number3Player nameAlbiolAverage rating
6.95
- Squad number4Player nameTorresAverage rating
6.97
- Squad number24Player namePedrazaAverage rating
6.92
- Squad number11Player nameChukwuezeAverage rating
7.18
- Squad number25Player nameCapoueAverage rating
6.93
- Squad number5Player nameParejoAverage rating
7.06
- Squad number14Player nameManu TriguerosAverage rating
7.08
- Squad number7Player nameMorenoAverage rating
7.20
- Squad number17Player namePaco AlcácerAverage rating
6.99
Substitutes
Avg
- Squad number2Player nameMario GasparAverage rating
6.30
- Squad number18Player nameMorenoAverage rating
6.20
- Squad number19Player nameCoquelinAverage rating
6.91
- Squad number23Player nameMoi GómezAverage rating
6.25
Arsenal
Starting XI
Avg
Squad number1Player nameLenoAverage rating3.60
Squad number21Player nameChambersAverage rating3.70
Squad number16Player nameHoldingAverage rating3.58
Squad number22Player nameMaríAverage rating3.39
Squad number34Player nameXhakaAverage rating3.44
- Squad number18Player nameParteyAverage rating
3.49
- Squad number8Player nameDani CeballosAverage rating
2.92
- Squad number7Player nameSakaAverage rating
4.38
- Squad number11Player nameØdegaardAverage rating
3.84
- Squad number19Player namePépéAverage rating
4.35
- Squad number32Player nameSmith RoweAverage rating
4.29
Substitutes
Avg
- Squad number12Player nameWillianAverage rating
3.50
Squad number14Player nameAubameyangAverage rating4.43
Squad number25Player nameMohamed ElnenyAverage rating3.96
- Squad number35Player nameGabriel MartinelliAverage rating
4.86
Line-ups
Villarreal
Formation 4-4-2
- 13Rulli
- 8FoythSubstituted forPérez Martínezat 70'minutes
- 3Albiol
- 4TorresBooked at 37mins
- 24PedrazaSubstituted forMorenoat 80'minutes
- 11Chukwueze
- 25CapoueBooked at 80mins
- 5Parejo
- 14Trigueros MuñozSubstituted forGómez Bardonadoat 81'minutes
- 7Moreno
- 17AlcácerSubstituted forCoquelinat 45'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Asenjo
- 2Pérez Martínez
- 6Funes Mori
- 9Bacca
- 15Estupiñán
- 18Moreno
- 19Coquelin
- 21Costa
- 23Gómez Bardonado
- 30Pino
- 32Baena
- 34Niño
Arsenal
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Leno
- 21Chambers
- 16Holding
- 22Marí
- 34Xhaka
- 18ParteyBooked at 57mins
- 8CeballosBooked at 57mins
- 7SakaSubstituted forAubameyangat 85'minutesBooked at 90mins
- 11ØdegaardSubstituted forMartinelliat 63'minutes
- 19PépéSubstituted forWillianat 90+5'minutes
- 32Smith RoweSubstituted forElnenyat 90+5'minutes
Substitutes
- 2Bellerín
- 6Gabriel
- 12Willian
- 14Aubameyang
- 17Cédric Soares
- 23David Luiz
- 24Nelson
- 25Elneny
- 30Nketiah
- 33Ryan
- 35Martinelli
- 53Okonkwo
- Referee:
- Artur Manuel Soares Dias
Match Stats
Home TeamVillarrealAway TeamArsenal
- Possession
- Home47%
- Away53%
- Shots
- Home9
- Away9
- Shots on Target
- Home6
- Away2
- Corners
- Home3
- Away3
- Fouls
- Home11
- Away14
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Villarreal 2, Arsenal 1.
Post update
Attempt missed. Calum Chambers (Arsenal) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Willian with a cross following a corner.
Substitution
Substitution, Arsenal. Willian replaces Nicolas Pépé.
Substitution
Substitution, Arsenal. Mohamed Elneny replaces Emile Smith Rowe.
Post update
Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by Gerónimo Rulli.
Post update
Attempt saved. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Arsenal) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Thomas Partey.
Post update
Attempt missed. Gerard Moreno (Villarreal) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Francis Coquelin with a cross.
Post update
Offside, Villarreal. Daniel Parejo tries a through ball, but Gerard Moreno is caught offside.
Post update
Foul by Granit Xhaka (Arsenal).
Post update
Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Booking
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Arsenal) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Foul by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Arsenal).
Post update
Raúl Albiol (Villarreal) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Offside, Arsenal. Granit Xhaka tries a through ball, but Calum Chambers is caught offside.
Post update
Calum Chambers (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Alberto Moreno (Villarreal).
Substitution
Substitution, Arsenal. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang replaces Bukayo Saka.
Post update
Offside, Arsenal. Granit Xhaka tries a through ball, but Nicolas Pépé is caught offside.
Post update
Foul by Calum Chambers (Arsenal).
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Comments
Join the conversation
Also, why doesn't the report mention the disallowed Arsenal goal. The free kick routine disallowed because of Arsenal foul. Except oh look, it's actually two Villarreal players running into each other, nothing to do with the Arsenal players.
An entertaining game, but absolutely woeful officiating.
Partey NEVER EVER taking shots again
Cabellos NEVER EVER wearing boots full of lead or concrete again
Arteta NEVER EVER employing a false 9 formation again
Much maligned ex Arsenal Manager with a team comprising of ex Arsenal and Spurs players.
A slow dodgy player he signed gets sent off.
With 10 men, we win a penalty despatched by a player he hated.
Then Capoue gets a red card while injuring himself in the process.
Not to mention false 9 formations, Partey taking shots from 30 yards and Xhaka at left back.