Arsenal crash out of Europa League, Manchester Utd cruise through

Manager Mikel Arteta did not hide his pain after Arsenal crashed out of the Europa League at the hands of Olympiacos.

Youssef El Arabi scores for Olympiacos in extra time against Arsenal in their Europa League tie at Emirates Stadium. Picture: Getty Images

Manager Mikel Arteta did not hide his pain after Arsenal crashed out of the Europa League at the hands of Olympiacos.

Youssef El Arabi’s goal in the final minute of extra time ensured it was the Greek outfit who advanced to the last 16 on away goals following a 2-2 draw on aggregate.

“It hurts, big time,” Arteta said.

“We had a lot of hope in this competition. I think we did a lot of positive things in the game. I think we created enough chances to win the game, but if you concede two set-pieces again in a tie like this, then you put yourself in big trouble.”

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The Gunners struggled to get going at Emirates Stadium and fell to a 2-1 defeat on the night. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang thought he had done enough to send the Londoners through when he equalised with a spectacular overhead kick in the second period of extra time, after Pape Abou Cisse took the tie into an additional 30 minutes.

The Gabon striker and Arsenal captain then squandered a glorious opportunity to spare the hosts’ blushes after El Arabi’s decisive goal.

“I feel very, very bad,” Aubameyang said.

“It can happen but I do not know how I missed this chance. I was tired, I had some cramps but it is not an excuse.”

At Old Trafford, Odion Ighalo scored his first goal since joining Manchester United on loan and they thrashed Belgium’s Club Brugge 5-0 to advance 6-1 on aggregate.

Bruno Fernandes, Scott McTominay and two late goals from Fred rounded off the scoring.

“I’m very happy with the contribution of Odion up front, doing what he does. He’s a target man, we can play up to him, he’ll hold it, he’s got Juan (Mata) and Bruno next to him and you’ve got runners then,” a happy Red Devils manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said.

In Spain, Wolves lost 3-2 to Espanyol but still progressed 6-3 on aggregate after their emphatic first-leg victory at Molineux.

Tom Rogic’s Celtic crashed out of the competition after losing to FC Copenhagen 4-2 on aggregate. The Socceroo played a rare full game in the 3-1 defeat in Glasgow.

Compatriot James Holland’s Austrian side LASK qualified with a 2-0 win over AZ Alkmaar (3-1) while Wolfsburg beat Malmo 3-0 (5-1).

Record five-time champions Sevilla were held to a scoreless draw by Cluj but went through on the away goals rule after it finished 1-1 in Romania last week.

Ajax were 2-1 winners against Getafe but went out 3-2 on aggregate while Benfica were also sent packing after a 3-3 draw with Shakhtar Donetsk (4-5). Inter Milan beat Ludogorets 2-1 (4-1) behind closed doors at the San Siro because of the coronavirus outbreak in Italy.

Roma drew 1-1 with Gent to progress (2-1) while Bayer Leverkusen recorded a 3-1 win at Porto for a 5-2 aggregate win.

Sporting Lisbon lost 4-1 to Istanbul Basaksehir after extra time to be eliminated 5-4 on aggregate while FC Basel beat Apoel Nicosia 1-0 (4-0).

DPA