Villarreal 2 Arsenal 1: Pepe spot-kick away goal gives Gunners hope after Spaniards hit double and Ceballos sees red
TEN-MAN Arsenal fought back dramatically in defeat to leave this Europa League semi-final well poised for the Emirates return.
Manu Trigueros and Raul Albiol put Villarreal 2-0 up inside the opening half-hour from the Spaniards’ first two proper chances.
And despite Dani Ceballos seeing red on 57 minutes for his second booking, Nicolas Pepe notched what could be a vital away goal from the penalty spot.
Juan Foyth, on loan from Tottenham, launched the fifth-minute move that led to Villarreal’s opener.
He surged forward to release Samuel Chukwueze down the right for the fast-arriving Trigueros to rasp home.
And the LaLiga made it two on the half-hour, Gerard Moreno glancing on a corner for Albiol to divert home amid poor defending.
VAR ruled out an Arsenal penalty following Foyth’s trip on Nicolas Pepe – as the Gunnes’ winger had used his hand in the build-up.
And it seemed to get a lot worse for Arsenal when loanee Ceballos saw red for his second caution, after he stood on Daniel Parejo’s foot.
But 16 minutes later Bukayo Saka was upended in the box, enabling Pepe to tuck home a spot-kick away goal.
Bernd Leno made two fine saves but Arsenal’s task eased when Etienne Capoue was dmissed for his second booking, a lunge on Saka.
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