Arsenal 0-0 Villarreal: 5 talking points as Gunners lose semi-final battle against their former manager | UEFA Europa League 2020-21

#3 Arsenal are likely to miss out on next season's European football

Arsenal failed to score against Villarreal at home

A goalless draw with Villarreal means that Arsenal are the only English team in European competition to not qualify for this season's final despite making it to the semi-final stage.

Chelsea and Manchester City are through to the finals of the UEFA Champions League (UCL) after overcoming their opponents Real Madrid and Paris-Saint Germain, respectively. Meanwhile, Manchester United have also beaten AS Roma to make it into the UEL final.

Arsenal were poor and looked relatively lackluster throughout the full 90 minutes. Considering that they are 9th in the Premier League table, the Gunners are nowhere close to qualifying for next season's UCL or UEL.

It's been five years since Arsenal have missed out on UCL. This time around, it appears extremely likely that they will be out of the UEL too.

---

#2 Villarreal qualify for their first Europa League final

Unai Emery has made it to his fifth Europa League final in his managerial career

Under Emery, Villarreal have qualified for the Europa League final for the first time in their history.

While it was not the best performance from the Yellow Submarines, two goals in the first leg was enough for them to get past Arsenal.

Emery certainly did not enjoy the best of relationships with the Gunners during his time in charge at the club. However, from his point of view, it was a delightful and rewarding return to the Emirates Stadium.

As things stand, Villarreal are currently 6th in the La Liga table and will qualify for next season's UEL. However, if they beat Manchester United in the final, they will make it into the UCL.

November 2019: Arsenal fire Unai Emery May 2021: Unai Emery beats Arsenal in the Europa League semifinals 🐸☕️ pic.twitter.com/Vhb9kR3VFv

— B/R Football (@brfootball) May 6, 2021

---

#1 Mikel Arteta's future at Arsenal is on the line

Mikel Arteta failed to beat his predecessor Unai Emery

Arsenal have failed to score in 10 home games in all competitions in a single season for the first time in the club's history. They duly deserved to be knocked out of the UEL by Villarreal.

Mikel Arteta might have led Arsenal to two trophies (FA Cup and English Super Cup), but his lack of experience as a manager is starting to show.

1 attempt on goal tonight. Arteta has to go tonight. Tonight

— Osman 🎗 (@OsmanZtheGooner) May 6, 2021

Former Arsenal player Martin Keown blamed Arteta for the defeat as he said:

"He [Arteta] was outsmarted by the previous manager which is a bit of an embarrassment. We looked lost.

We havent really laid a glove on them and we havent gone down fighting."

They seemed almost prepared to let the game flow away & I think that does come from the manager."

With rumors surrounding Arteta's future, it looks like losing to Villarreal might be the final nail in the coffin for the Arsenal manager.