ARSENAL blew the chance to make it a full house of English finalists after crashing out of the Europa League with a dismal goalless draw.
Unai Emery came back to haunt his old club by holding Thomas Partey and the rest of the flops to a stalemate that put them out on aggregate.
But defiant Mikel Arteta insists he is still the right man to lead Arsenal – even though the club face failing to qualify for Europe for the first time in 25 years.
Asked if he still though he was up to the job Arteta said: “I wouldn’t be sitting here if I didn’t. You will see it. It’s not about talking. It’s about showing it on the pitch.
“I think everybody’s job always in scrutiny.”
The Gunners are now lower in the Premier League table than last season, without a trophy to show for their efforts and no longer good enough for even the lowest of European football competitions.
It is a damning indictment of the process Arteta wants supporters to understand is taking place.
He added: “Obviously looking at everything right now and to be focused on that, I understand that. I leave it to guys.
“We tried everything until the last minute, I think over two legs and what happened today in the second half, I think we deserved to win the game.
“But the details define these ties. We had the opportunities but didn’t score. We hit the post twice, had three good chances, they didn’t have anything but they are through.
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“At the defining moment you should have everything available at their best and so many things happened to us, and so many players were just trying to be able to compete but not at their best, that’s a big disadvantage.”
But Arsenal Invincible Martin Keown says his former club now face a big decision – whether to keep faith with Arteta or dump him this summer.
Keown said: “Arsenal and Arteta were outsmarted by their former manager, which is a big of an embarrassment.
“Emery was just too smart for Arteta. We were nervous, tentative, the performance just wasn’t there.
“We shouldn’t really be surprised when we look at the Premier League, ninth in the table, 19 goals scored from 17 home matches.
“To go unbeaten the whole season and now to not even make Europe, it’s a real fall from grace. I know we’re talking about new ownership, are we now talking about a change of manager.
“There’s a crossroads the club now finds itself at, and this is the lowest night I can remember in a number of years.
“Inconsistency is rife through the group and it’s cost us. They haven’t had to get out of first gear to manage Arsenal and that’s the most disappointing thing.”
Villarreal boss Emery said: “Very proud because we know that match was very important for us. For the work we did tonight and in the first match we deserved it.
“I know Man Utd is going to be very difficult but today we are enjoying this moment!”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
