Villarreal Deny Arsenal All-England Europa Final

Arsenal’s Europa League hopes were dashed last night as Villarreal sealed a semi-final victory that will almost certainly end the Gunners’ unbroken 25-season run of appearing in European competition.

Trailing 2-1 from the first leg in Spain and knowing that victory in this tournament represented their only realistic route back into the Champions League, Mikel Arteta’s side could not find a way past the visitors’ stubborn defence as the second leg ended goalless.

Nicolas Pepe and Emile Smith Rowe both fired efforts wide early in the second half and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang hit the post again with a downward header later in the game but such moments were few and far between.

With Manchester United seeing off Roma in the other semi-final 3-2 (8-5 aggregate) and Chelsea and Manchester City into the Champions League final, Arsenal’s loss ruins a Premier League clean sweep of European competitions this season.