The ex-defender, now working as a tv pundit, mentioned Arsenal seemed “lost” as it was dumped out of the competitors by the Spanish aspect on Thursday.

Arsenal had misplaced the primary leg 2-1 and could not break the impasse within the return fixture which ended 0-0. Its inexperienced squad seemed in need of concepts and star man Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who has just lately recovered from malaria, was a passenger for a lot of the tie.

“Arsenal looked lost. We couldn’t get out and they made us nervy. We haven’t really laid a glove on them and we haven’t gone down fighting,” Keown mentioned on BT Sport after the match.

To make issues worse, Villarreal is managed by Unai Emery, who was sacked by Arsenal and changed with Mikel Arteta.

The present boss, who remains to be studying his commerce on the prime degree, now faces big scrutiny with the workforce at present ninth within the Premier League and heading towards a season with out European soccer for the primary time since 1996.

“It’s a huge job at this football club. His (Arteta’s) inexperience has perhaps cost him,” added Keown.

“He’s still manager, but it felt this was the rescue package and his players didn’t turn up. He was outsmarted by the previous manager which is a bit of an embarrassment.”

Fellow pundit and former Arsenal participant Freddie Ljungberg, who briefly took over as interim boss on the club in 2019, mentioned he hoped Arteta would maintain his job however acknowledged the stress mounting on those that must make the choice.

“He’s a young manager and I hope he will stay,” he mentioned on BT Sport. “But, of course, it’s not good enough for Arsenal and it’s up to the owners and other people within the club.”

Pressure on house owners

After the sport, Arteta — who had been a fan favourite when he first took over in December 2019 — mentioned he was “devastated” by the outcome however insisted he nonetheless thought he was the suitable man for the job.

“I feel the pressure all the time because I want to do as good as I can for the team, the support that I have and for the fans,” he mentioned after the sport.

“I think everybody’s job is under scrutiny.”

It’s yet another chapter in a tumultuous season for Arsenal. Its league type has been woeful at occasions and there’s widespread anger amongst supporters in regards to the club’s proprietor, Stan Kroenke.

The American has been accused of not investing sufficient cash into the squad and, in the end, for not caring in regards to the workforce’s performances on the pitch.

His resolution to signal Arsenal as much as the massively controversial Super League additionally triggered followers to protest outdoors the stadium.

Spotify CEO and founder Daniel Ek has publicly introduced his need to purchase Arsenal, insisting he desires to take his favourite club again to glory.



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