Gunners boss Mikel Arteta: ‘We are devastated, really disappointed. We tried everything to win the game’

ARSENAL are waking up to the stark reality of life without European football after suffering Europa League heartache last night (Thursday).

Former Gunners boss Unai Emery returned to haunt his old club as he guided Villarreal to a goalless draw in the semi-final second leg at the Emirates, earning a 2-1 victory on aggregate.

Arsenal came within a lick of paint of booking their place in the final when Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s late header came back off the inside of the post.

But for a side that needed just one goal to save not only this season, but next, chances were all too far and few between.

It means that Arsenal, who are sitting ninth in the Premier League with just four games to go, are now likely to miss out on European football next term for the first time in 25 years.

“We are devastated, really disappointed,” said dejected Gunners boss Mikel Arteta after the match. “We tried everything to win the game.

“Last year we had to earn our way into Europe by winning the FA Cup, and this year the only way to do it now is through the Premier League, so we know what we have ahead of us.”

The days when Arsenal would strike fear into opponents are long gone, and with that Villarreal had the confidence to get on the ball and pour forward throughout.

They needed less than five minutes to test Bernd Leno’s reflexes, the lively Samuel Chukwueze unleashing a curling effort from outside the box that forced a save for the cameras.

The “Yellow Submarine” were playing like the home team, and they went close again midway through the half when Daniel Parejo fired a dangerous free-kick inches over the crossbar.

It took Arsenal 26 minutes to muster a chance of note. Villarreal failed to clear their lines following a corner, and the ball fell to Aubameyang who hit a low shot with the outside of his boot that clipped the far post.

The Arsenal skipper went close again just before the break with a tame shot that was collected by Geronimo Rulli, albeit at the second attempt after the Villarreal keeper let the ball bounce through his legs.

Aubameyang tried for a third time with his last shot before being substituted late on, but when his header defied physics by coming back off the inside of the post – but not bouncing over the line – it was clear it wasn’t going to be his, or Arsenal’s night.