Europa League: Villarreal vs Arsenal Player Ratings

Going into this semi final, no one thought it would be easy. Villarreal boasted an in form Gerard Moreno as well as Mr. Europa League himself, Unai Emery. In my opinion, we got the best draw.

And we got it all wrong.

Mikel Arteta – 4

Abysmal. Absolutely abysmal.

First of all, let’s talk about the formation. A 3-1-4-1-1. WHAT ON EARTH IS THAT. Not to mention the fact that he just opted to have 2 CAMs and no ST on the pitch. Martinelli is sitting there, the conditions and circumstances could not have been better for him to start, and yet Arteta overlooks him.

The formation itself was horrid. With 6 players in the middle of the park, including the CDM and CAM, we were constantly run through at will by Arsenal. It was so obvious that the players did not understand their roles in this formation.

After the goal and the red card from Villarreal, Arteta used his trademark move and waited until there were 5 minutes left to make substitutions – again, way too late. And too take off Pepe for Willian at the end: come on now. To keep Ceballos on in the second half was an open invitation to get a red card and a terrible decision.

Bernd Leno – 7

Leno couldn’t have done anything about the goals. Shock horror, they came as a result off poor defending. Didn’t really have a save where he parried it perse but he did well to collect balls cleanly. A better game from what we have seen recently which is quite encouraging for both him and the fans.

Callum Chambers – 5

Chambers sent in a wonderball of a cross to a waiting Smith-Rowe, who could not convert. Other than those 2 seconds of brilliance, he was poor. Too slow off the mark, couldn’t retain possession, lack lustre in defence. The first bad performance from him since his return to first team football.

Rob Holding – 4

Holding had a shocker. There really isn’t any way to put it. In what seems to be a reoccurring theme this season, he got outjumped by an opponent, allowing the ball to be flicked on to the back post and resulting in Villarreal’s second goal of the night. His ability to keep possession was lacking. Need more from the man wearing the armband.

Pablo Mari – 5

I don’t really know what to say about Mari. Half the time I forgot he was on the pitch. He did well in a couple 1 on 1 situations but his marking at times was not good at all and, in one instance at least, opened the door for Moreno to triple his side’s lead.

Granit Xhaka – 5

Xhaka was poor all around today. Countless times, he did too much with the ball and lost possession and was extremely lucky to not have one of those mistakes cost the team a goal. Did well on occasion to silence Chukweuze but was poor overall.

Thomas Partey – 5.5

Partey did well at times but overall the issues he has just seem to keep appearing. He was inefficient in possession. He did not offer much defensively. He didn’t even offer that much offensively. His marking for the second goal was woeful and probably the reason why the ball ended up in the back of the net.

If this man takes another strike from outside the box I am starting a petition to send him back to Atletico.

Dani Ceballos – 2.5

Now I’ve given Willian a 3 before, but I feel like this performance was worse. The only positive I can find is that he showed good effort at times. I don’t have enough fingers to count how many times he got burnt by Foyth down the wing. He lost the ball unreasonably a lottery of times in the midfield. The red card – don’t even get me started. A day to forget for him.

Bukayo Saka – 6

Saka had quite a quiet game. There isn’t much else to say really. Couldn’t cause more than just ripples in the Villarreal defence. In saying that, he did well to win the penalty (yes, it was soft and I would be livid if it happened against us but let’s be real – Villarreal went down so often I forgot what it was like to see them standing).

Nicolas Pepe – 8

The best player on the pitch by far for me. Unlucky to not get a penalty at first, but did well to slot home the opportunity when it eventually came. Lively from start to end and was again a large danger in attack.

Now posting 10 G/A (6 goals, 4 assists), he is the competitions top goal contributor.

Martin Odegaard – 6

Not quite what I was expecting, to be honest. Yes, the team played poorly and not having an actual striker in front of him made it very difficult to be effective, but at times he just seemed non-existent.

Emile Smith-Rowe – 5

I’m not blaming Smith-Rowe for his performance, but I feel as if he was barely even on the ball. Just because a false 9 works at City, doesn’t mean it will work at Arsenal, Arteta.

SUBSTITUTIONS:

Pierre-Emrick Aubameyang – 6.5

Gabriel Martinelli – 6.5

Mohammed Elneny - 6

Willian – 6

MAN OF THE MATCH:

Nicolas Pepe – 8

Seemed like the only player in a red shirt that really wanted it out there.