The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Man Utd reach Europa League final – but agony for the Gunners
Manchester United are through to their first final under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer but Arsenal missed the chance to join them in the Europa League showpiece in Gdansk.
Edinson Cavani scored twice for United in a 3-2 second-leg defeat to Roma as the Gunners played out a frustrating 0-0 draw with Villarreal that saw them bow out 2-1 on aggregate.
Having fallen at the semifinal stage on four occasions across the last two seasons, the Red Devils made it fifth time lucky to set-up a shot at glory on May 26.
Last week’s 6-2 victory at Old Trafford meant United already had one foot in the final ahead of the trip to Italy, where Roma made things uncomfortable and won an entertaining second leg.
Cavani was the star of the 8-5 aggregate triumph as he followed his first-leg brace with another pair in the eternal city, where he fired the visitors into a first-half lead from a fine Bruno Fernandes pass.
But David De Gea was the standout performer at the Stadio Olimpico, producing fine early saves and then some outstanding stops as United wobbled following quickfire Edin Dzeko and Bryan Cristante efforts.
Cavani rose to head United back level on the night from another superb Fernandes ball, but Roma gave it their all days after it was confirmed that Paulo Fonseca would be succeeded by Solskjaer’s predecessor Jose Mourinho.
Teenage debutant Nicola Zalewski fired home a deflected late effort to seal the spirited hosts a secondleg victory, but it is the Red Devils heading to Poland for a shot at their first trophy since winning the competition in 2017.
Manchester United captain Harry Maguire said on BT Sport: “It’s a great achievement to get to the final.
“We didn’t win the game and that’s disappointing but we did the hard work in the first leg.
“We started the game a bit edgy. It was end to end like basketball and we gave them too many chances in second half.
“Now we’ve got to go to the final and win it.
“Edinson scored two great goals and his movement and work rate without the ball is excellent.
“His second goal is typical of him and what he has done throughout his career.”
For Arsenal it was a night of frustration as they face up to a first season without European football in 25 years.
The 0-0 draw at the Emirates Stadium means Arsenal’s hopes of playing in Europe next season rely on an unlikely string of results in the Premier League.
Pierre-emerick Aubameyang hit the post with Arsenal’s best chance as another tactical tweak from manager Mikel Arteta failed to pay off.
Unai Emery got one over his former club to once again reach the final of a competition he thrives in.
Emery won the Europa League three times as Sevilla manager and took Arsenal to the final in 2019, where they lost to Chelsea.
Arsenal’s exit prevented both Europa League and Champions League finals from being all-english affairs.
Arsenal lost Granit Xhaka after complaining of a tight muscle in the warm-up, but it was in attack where Arteta’s side were again found wanting last night as the manager now faces questions over his reign at the club.