Many Arsenal fans are dumbstruck after Mikel Arteta claimed that his team deserved to win against Villarreal in the second-leg of the Europa League semifinals.
The North London club were knocked-out of the European competition as they could only manage a draw on Thursday, ultimately loosing to the Spanish club 2-1 on aggregate.
The Gunners looked incredibly ordinary against a well-structured La Liga side. Over the two legs, the Emirates club only managed four shots on target compared to nine from the Yellow Submarines.
However, Mikel Arteta suggested that his side had done enough to make it through to the final. Speaking to Arsenal’s official website, he said:
“We are devastated. We had so much enthusiasm and desire to be in that final. We knew how much it meant to the club, to the fans, to ourselves to be in that final and have the chance to win a title and be in the Champions League next season. It’s a huge blow.
“We fought until the end and I think today, in the second half, we deserved to win the game 1-0. If it had happened, we would’ve been through. But we didn’t do it and there is a reason for that.”
However, these comments from the manager have left many fans shell-shocked. Here are some of the Twitter reactions:
Wow.. the audacity
— Jesse (@jackjez) May 6, 2021
How he can decide to lie in front of cameras can you imagine both legs Arsenal short on targets 4 #ArtetaOut
— Seth (@Seth_rugabire7) May 6, 2021
Can u please resign
— HenrySZN (@HenrySzn14) May 6, 2021
Wow he needs to leave now
— Biru (@tom__biru) May 6, 2021
What game was he managing? Absolute joke 😂
— F (@Fabzyy95) May 6, 2021
What game was this guy watching??
— Aniel Matharoo (@AnielMatharoo) May 6, 2021
Genuinely deluded. That appraisal worries me.
— Dan Boateng (@DannyBoyJones23) May 6, 2021
The North Londoners had the opportunities to come away with a victory last night. Specifically the two shots that came off the post in both halves and the Emile Smith Rowe chip, which went wide off the goal. On any other given day, these would have ended at the back of the net.
However, it is hard to agree with Mikel Arteta that his side deserved to go through to the final after their disappointing performance over the two legs. His side looked lethargic in both games, moved the ball very slowly across the field and didn’t have the urgency.
He also made a few bad decisions last night. Taking Aubameyang off at the most critical time of the game was one of them. The Gabonese forward was the main threat to the Villarreal defence and should have stayed on until the end.
Arteta is now under huge pressure as it seems unlikely that they will be playing any European competition next season. The F.A Cup triumph last season plastered over the cracks, but with the current season heading towards a disappointing end the manager has got nowhere to hide.
