By Daily sports on May 6, 2021

It’s crunch time for Arsenal as they prepare for their Europa League semi-final second leg against Villarreal as their European hopes for next season hang in the balance.

The Gunners trail 2-1 from the first leg in Spain last week, but Nicolas Pepe’s penalty handed Arsenal an away goal lifeline that seemed almost impossible after an hour.

A gritty determination and resilience sees Thursday’s second leg at The Emirates finely poised, with Arsenal aiming to reach their second Europa League final in three years.

Their last appearance in the 2018/19 final came under Unai Emery – now the manager of Villarreal and with a sensational history in the Europa League.

Securing European football next season via the Premier League is looking like a difficult ask, with a Europa League victory Arsenal’s best chance of a Champions League return for the first time in five years.

But if Arsenal are unable to find a comeback victory against Villarreal tonight at The Emirates, they are poised to miss out on European football for the first time in 25 years.

Meanwhile, Manchester United thrashed AS Roma 6-2 in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final tie at Old Trafford, but Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side must now put the turbulent events of the past week out of their minds and focus on reaching the final.

“You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to see we have challenges to be dealt with,” he said. “I would be sad if all the good work the players have gone got disrupted. Our focus is on playing well and getting to a final now.”

It was only the fourth time Roma have conceded six or more goals in a match in major European competition, with two coming against United following the 7-1 defeat in April 2007.

Since the first leg, Roma have announced Jose Mourinho will replace Paulo Fonseca as their head coach on a three-year deal set to begin at the start of next season.

Mourinho memorably masterminded a 6-1 victory over Solskjaer’s team last September so will he impart any advice to his compatriot? Fonseca acknowledges his side have a mountain to climb to reach the final.

“It’s not easy to beat Manchester United 4-0, but I’ve seen many things happen in football. I believe in everything,” he said.

The visitors head into the second leg having had a full week of rest following the postponement of their Premier League encounter with Manchester United at Old Trafford last Sunday as a result of the anti-Glazer demonstration.

•Pieced together from Sky Sports previews. 

Source Daily sports

Posted May 6, 2021

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