UNAI EMERY'S Villarreal have knocked out Arsenal out of the Europa League with a 0-0 draw at the Emirates.
The La Liga side go through after winning the first leg 2-1, and the Gunners will now end this season trophyless.
Before the match, Arsenal fans staged a protest over their ownership outside the Emirates Stadium.
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- Kostas Lianos
STATS
Arsenal dominated 55.7 per cent of possession but that didn't help them in their quest to reach the Europa League final.
The Gunners also registered a total of 14 shots but only two of them were on target.
Villarreal, on the other hand, recorded eight shots, three of which forced a save from Bernd Leno.
We expected an intense encounter, considering what was on the line, but at the end there were only two yellow cards, one for each team
- Kostas Lianos
FT: ARSENAL 0-0 VILLARREAL
Arsenal were eliminated from the Europa League by Villarreal and the manager they offloaded two years ago Unai Emery following a goalless draw at the Emirates.
The Yellow Submarine went through to the final thanks to their 2-1 victory at the Estadio de la Ceramica last week.
The Gunners had plenty of chances to score that season-saving goal in both halves.
However, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang hit the post twice, once in the first half when a shot from the outside of his right foot hit Geronimo Rulli's right-hand post and then in the second half when his header rattled the sticks again.
Nicolas Pepe also came close in the second half as did Emile Smith Rowe but the performance wasn't really there and the Yellow Submarine's patient as well as clever tactics were too much for the hosts
GETTY IMAGES - Kostas Lianos
PEEEEEEEEEEEP!
AND THAT'S IT AT THE EMIRATES!!!!!
- Kostas Lianos
ARSENAL 0-0 VILLARREAL
90+4 Last minute of the match!
Arsenal have a goal-kick
- Kostas Lianos
ARSENAL 0-0 VILLARREAL
90+2 YELLOW CARD
Nketiah gets booked on his first involvement of the match.
Time is running out!
- Kostas Lianos
ARSENAL 0-0 VILLARREAL
90 SUBSTITUTION
Nketiah also replaced Bellerin earlier on
- Kostas Lianos
ARSENAL 0-0 VILLARREAL
90 FIVE more minutes to go!
Plenty of time for Arsenal but how much energy do they have left?
- Kostas Lianos
ARSENAL 0-0 VILLARREAL
90 SUBSTITUTION
Villarreal manager Emery makes a double change to milk the last few minutes of the match.
Pedraza makes way for Alberto Moreno and Pino comes off for Gomez
- Kostas Lianos
ARSENAL 0-0 VILLARREAL
89 CHANCE
Pepe finds Bellerin inside the box but his shot is blocked by a wonderful Villarreal defence!
Nothing comes off the corner
- Kostas Lianos
ARSENAL 0-0 VILLARREAL
88 CHANCE
Bellerin tries a shot from the edge of the box but it's blocked by Villarreal's defence.
A ball then goes through but just misses Martinelli inside the box….
Arsenal are pushing for that important goal!
- Kostas Lianos
ARSENAL 0-0 VILLARREAL
87 YELLOW CARD
Villarreal ace Pino becomes the first player to be booked in the match because of dissent.
The visitors are milking as much time as possible after every challenge
- Kostas Lianos
ARSENAL 0-0 VILLARREAL
87 What do Arsenal have to do to score?!
Arteta's men are in dire need of that goal that will save the season
GETTY IMAGES - Kostas Lianos
ARSENAL 0-0 VILLARREAL
85 A moment of mix-up for Villarreal's backline!
Torres heads the ball out for a corner-kick before Rulli can punch it away, seems like even his defenders don't trust his clearances.
Nothing comes off the corner
- Kostas Lianos
ARSENAL 0-0 VILLARREAL
84 Arsenal are still dominating possession but Villarreal are showing so much European nous.
Very good positioning and the right kind of marking are keeping the Gunners out of the final
- Kostas Lianos
ARSENAL 0-0 VILLARREAL
81 Lacazette calls for a penalty after tussling with Albiol but the official is having none of it.
Frustration is building up for Arsenal
- Kostas Lianos
ARSENAL 0-0 VILLARREAL
80 SUBSTITUTION
Double change for Arsenal as Arteta takesintroduces Lacazette and SWillian, who replace Aubameyang and Tierney respectively
- Kostas Lianos
ARSENAL 0-0 VILLARREAL
78 WHAT A CHANCE!
How did Arsenal not score there?!
Bellerin delivers a wonderful cross from the right flank and finds Aubameyang who jumps higher than everyone and gets the header that hits Rulli's right-hand post!
What do the Gunners have to do to score?!
- Kostas Lianos
ARSENAL 0-0 VILLARREAL
77 CHANCE!
Arsenal miss another chance as Martinelli fires a shot from the edge of the box and sends the ball wide.
Time is running out for the Gunners and nerves are thus increasing
- Kostas Lianos
ARSENAL 0-0 VILLARREAL
74 WHAT A CHANCE!
Arsenal come close again!
Pepe delivers a wonderful cross down the right flank and finds Holding again whose header just misses Rulli's right-hand post
- Kostas Lianos
ARSENAL 0-0 VILLARREAL
72 SUBSTITUTION
Looks like Emery may want that away goal after all!
Bacca replaces Paco
- Kostas Lianos
ARSENAL 0-0 VILLARREAL
71 CHANCE!
Arsenal win a free-kick from a good position down the left flank.
Saka delivers a cross and finds Holding whose header goes over the bar
- Kostas Lianos
ARSENAL 0-0 VILLARREAL
68 Manchester United score a gain with Cavani so any chance of a miracle seems to have been erased.
But can Arsenal meet them in the final? They really need a goal to save their season!
- Kostas Lianos
ARSENAL 0-0 VILLARREAL
66 SUBSTITUTION
And here's the substitution we were telling you about.
Martinelli replaces Odegaard, who cannot continue after picking up a knock
- Kostas Lianos
ARSENAL 0-0 VILLARREAL
65 Villarreal are so confident and strong on the ball…
Just now Pedraza delivered a through ball inside the box that Tierney just manages to clear.
Arsenal are getting a little sloppy
- Kostas Lianos
ARSENAL 0-0 VILLARREAL
63 Both players are fine to continue so far but Martinelli is set to come on.
Meanwhile, Roma have turned things around at the Olimpico with Cristante, taking the aggregate to 7-4.
Can they pull off the same as they did against Barcelona in the Champions League…?
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