Vintage Arsenal vanquish Villarreal to advance

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posted on 15 years ago — updated on 1 second ago

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Arsenal delivered an efficient performance at the Emirates Stadium.

New Delhi: The English side found an extra gear to comfortably get past Villarreal and set up a crunch clash with an old rival in the semi-finals.

Arsenal delivered a confident and efficient performance at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday evening to eliminate a poor Villarreal side 3-0 on the night, and 4-1 on aggregate.

Theo Walcott opened the scoring with an exquisite lob, before Emmanuel Adebayor and a Robin Van Persie penalty ensured a miserable night for their Spanish opponents, who had midfielder Sebastien Eguren dismissed in the second period.

First Half

Arsene Wenger’s squad was feeling the strain prior to the match, with a host of defensive names including goalkeeper Manuel Almunia and central defender William Gallas sidelined through injury. However, the Frenchman could still name a strong, attacking line-up with Robin Van Persie returning to partner Emmanuel Adebayor, he of the wonder goal in the first leg, in attack.

Villarreal too saw injuries and poor form blight their recent performances, and despite being an away goal down in the tie coach Manuel Pellegrini fielded a side that appeared more content to consolidate rather than create. Veteran Robert Pires was given the task of supporting Giuseppe Rossi as the Spanish side sought to fashion a route back into the tie.

But the home side arrived with intent, bursting out of the blocks and they took the lead within the first ten minutes to tighten their grip on the contest.

Theo Walcott gave Joan Capdevila a torrid time at El Madrigal in the previous encounter, and tonight he picked up where he had left off. When the Spanish international defender made an error of judgement the diminutive winger Walcott gave Arsenal a hugely deserved lead.

He ran on to a pass that deceived the full-back to advance on Diego Lopez, and as the ‘keeper spread himself he cheekily dinked the ball over his head into the far corner. As he wheeled away in celebration, Villarreal’s’ defenders appeared dejected – the game plan to keep things tight in the early stages had been undone.

It was almost all one way traffic, and Los Submarinos Amarillos looked at this stage like a team who should be more concerned with keeping the score down rather than finding a way back into the match. Their enterprising efforts more often than not led to them relinquishing possession, without penetrating the Arsenal rearguard.

Just before the half hour mark, Van Persie rifled in a powerful free kick that Diego Lopez managed to parry, but as the ball bounced up Adebayor could only head tamely with a gaping goal. Even then, as the defenders scrambled to clear, Gonzalo had to look sharp to clear from under his own crossbar.

But at times Gonzalo and his defensive compatriot Diego Godin looked for from stable, and yet the Gunners for their dominance could not add to their advantage and the longer it remained that way, Villarreal still had a way back into the match.

Second Half

Arsenal, despite appearing to be a far superior team for long spells of the first half, began to emanate a degree of nervousness as they sensed that only their third Champions League semi-final under Wenger could be within their grasp.

Their hesitancy allowed the visitors back into the match, and despite how fragile they had appeared defensively Villarreal began to show an element of ambition and flair. Passes were finding their mark, tackles were being won, and slowly but surely Pellegrini’s men edged back into the contest.

Chances however remained at a premium, with Rossi unable to escape the shackles of the Arsenal back line, and just as Villarreal were experiencing their most positive spell of the match, The English side delivered a damning blow thanks to the irrepressible Adebayor.

The tall front-man latched onto a through pass from Van Persie and coolly slid the ball past Diego Lopez with the outside of his right foot, and the Gunners appeared home and dry.

With that goal Villarreal’s chances fell apart, and indeed so did their discipline as Arsenal romped further ahead. A through ball from Emmanuel Eboue found the feet of Walcott inside the area, and although Gonzalo’s challenge appeared clumsy he clearly got a piece of the ball as the young protégé went down under his challenge.

The referee appeared content to allow play to continue, but the assistant referee flagged for an infringement and the penalty was given. Sebastien Eguren was irate, and as the Villarreal players surrounded the match officials Eguren clearly laid his hands on the referee, who was given no option but to send the Uruguayan from the field.

Dutchman Robin Van Persie despatched the kick with aplomb, and the result now represented the level of superiority that Arsenal had threatened to administer throughout the contest.

Villarreal were woeful on the night, but Arsene Wenger would have been extremely satisfied with the manner in which his side ruthlessly moved into the semi-finals – and straight into a mouth-watering clash with holders Manchester United.