The Yellows beat Arsenal and will fight in London to get their place for the UEFA Europa League final
Villarreal strike first (2-1). The Yellows beat Arsenal in a tough tie which had everything. The Yellows went ahead thanks to two goals from Manu Trigueros and Raúl Albiol in the first half, and the Gunners got one back from the penalty spot in the second through Nicolas Pépé. The Yellows will travel to London with a small lead which they will need to defend to get their ticket to the UEFA Europa League final in Gdansk (Poland).
The game against The Gunners was not just another game. It was a historic date. Semi-finals. Revenge 15 years later. Despite not being able to enter the Estadio de la Cerámica, the fans responded and accompanied the team in their journey from the Training Ground to the stadium.
After the great reception from the Yellows fans, Villarreal took to the pitch full of motivation. They started full of impetus and scored quickly. The Submarine got a head on the scoreboard before the fifth minute. Trigueros got on the end of a good pass from Samu Chukwueze to beat Berd Leno with a low shot from inside the box.
Villarreal had done the hardest thing, and gone ahead on the scoreboard. After the goal, the Gunners took a step forward, and the Submarine had a few tough moments, where they stayed strong well.
In the 28th minute, Unai Emery’s side scored their second with a goal straight off the training ground. From a Dani Parejo corner, Gerard Moreno flicked it out for Albiol to appear at the back post and send the ball into the back of the net. It was 2-0! Incredible!
Only five minutes later, the referee nearly ruined Villarreal’s party with a penalty that was ruled out for a clear handball by Pépé. VAR had to intervene to overturn the big refereeing mistake.
At the start of the second half, Emery looked to the bench and brought on Francis Coquelin for Paco Alcácer, trying to bring more consistency to the centre of the pitch. In the 58th minute, Arsenal were left with ten men after the sending off of Dani Ceballos after he saw a second yellow card for a heavy challenge on Dani Parejo.
After the sending-off, the Submarine once more looked comfortable. However, it wasn’t going to be easy for the Yellows. In the 71st minute, the referee pointed to the spot dubiously. With the slightest of touches, Trigueros had brought down Bukayo Saka. From 12 yards, Pépé got a goal back, sending Gero Rulli the wrong way.
Arsenal’s goal was followed by the sending-off of Etienne Capoue for two yellows, and the match, which the Yellows seemed to be in control of, looked a lot more difficult all of a sudden.
With ten against ten, Villarreal continued to try and increase their lead, but the closest chance of the closing stages fell to Arsenal. Rulli kept the Yellows’ lead going into the second leg, making a great sabe from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Lineups:
Villarreal CF: Rulli; Foyth (Mario Gaspar, m. 69), R. Albiol, Pau Torres, A. Pedraza (Alberto M., m. 79); Capoue, M. Trigueros (Moi Gómez, m. 79), Parejo; Chukwueze, Gerard, Alcácer (Coquelin, m. 45).
Arsenal FC: Leno; Chambers, Holding, Pablo Marí; Smith Rowe (Elneny, m. 94), Ceballos, Partey, Xhaka, Saka (Aubameyang, m. 79); Odegaard (Martinelli, m. 62), Pépe (Willian, m. 94).
Goals: 1-0. Min. 5: M. Trigueros. 2-0. Min. 29: R. Albiol. 2-1. Min. 72: Pépe.
Referee: Artur Manuel Ribeiro (Portugal). Booked: Pau (Villarreal); Partey, Aubameyang (Arsenal). Sent off: Ceballos and Capoue for two yellow cards (57’) and (79’).
Matchday information: Match between Villarreal CF and Arsenal FC, corresponding to the first leg of the UEFA Europa League semi-finals at the Estadio de la Cerámica.
