Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal prediction backfires after Villarreal Europa League loss

Arsene Wenger saw his Europa League semi-final prediction go up in smoke as Arsenal crashed out against Villarreal.

The Gunners needed to win at the Emirates on Thursday night to stand a chance of qualifying for Europe next season.

But Mikel Arteta’s men couldn’t find the one goal they needed to overturn a 2-1 first leg deficit against old boss Unai Emery.

Defeat leaves Arsenal facing prospect of no European football next season for the first time since the 1995-96 campaign.

Wenger, who led the north Londoners into Europe during each of his 22 years in charge, was pretty confident of the Gunners’ chances prior to the match.

He said: “It’s an opportunity to get to a final and come back to the Champions League.

“I believe there is no chance of that in the Premier League but it’s still possible [through the Europa League].

“It will be a success if Arsenal win a trophy, that is always a success, but your real qualities are decided by where you stand in the championship.

“This is the route left for them and they have to completely for it. It’s very strange, it looks like an indoor Arsenal game, especially with no fans!

“But overall you still have an advantage playing at home, you feel more comfortable at home.

“I would say Arsenal have enough offensive potential to win the game.

“You have so many strikers and people who can score goals and be creative. 2-1 is the result at the moment but you should be quite confident to change and reverse it.”

Arsenal’s defeat to Villarreal leaves the Premier League as their only route into Europe next season.

The Gunners are five points adrift of Liverpool, who currently occupy the league’s UEFA Conference League spot.

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