Villarreal v Arsenal player ratings: Raul Albiol 8, Etienne Capoue 4; Bernd Leno 6, Emile Smith Rowe 5

First-half goals by Manu Trigueros and Raul Albiol put the Spanish club in command of Europa League semi-final

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  VILLARREAL RATINGS: Geronimo Rulli – 6 – Could do little to prevent the Pepe penalty. He’d had a quiet night otherwise and wasn’t called upon too often, until he made an important stop to deny Aubameyang late on. AFP

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  Juan Foyth – 7 – The on-loan Spurs player covered a lot of ground, driving into space and causing trouble for Arsenal on many occasions. Went off injured in the 70th minute having performed well, though was lucky not to have given away a penalty. AFP

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  Raul Albiol – 8 – The 35-year-old had a solid game, adding a goal to his name after half an hour to double the lead for the Spanish side. Looked secure throughout, making vital stops to protect the lead going into the second leg. EPA

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  Pau Torres – 6 – Walked a tightrope with a yellow card near half-time. Had a safe game otherwise, defending well for his side to deny Arsenal many clear-cut chances. EPA

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  Alfonso Pedraza – 6 – Looked solid in his defensive ability but offered little going forward before being replaced in the second half. AFP

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  Daniel Parejo – 6 – The 32-year-old covered the midfield areas well for Villarreal, offering defensive stability and some progressive ball carrying throughout. AFP

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  Etienne Capoue – 4 – The former Tottenham midfielder looked solid in the first half but gave away two clumsy challenges that resulted in a red card, putting both sides a man down. Reuters

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  Manuel Trigueros – 7 – The midfielder scored a goal to put his side in the lead early on. Gave away the penalty in the 71st minute with a clumsy challenge but had an otherwise good game. AFP

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  Gerard Moreno – 7 – Grabbed a 30th-minute assist to help his side double the lead, showing hunger to win a header at the near post. Reuters

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  Paco Alcacer – 5 – The striker struggled to get in the game, his one chance coming from a long-range free-kick in the first half. He was then subbed at the beginning of the second half. AFP

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  Samuel Chukwueze – 6 – The 21-year-old caused problems for Arsenal on a few occasions, displaying a burst of pace and skill on the right to beat Xhaka on the flank. AFP

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  SUB: Francis Coquelin – (Alcacer 46’) – 6 – The former Arsenal man came on to add some midfield stability for the home side, making sure that he won individual battles. He patrolled the midfield well. AFP

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  SUB: Mario Gaspar – (Foyth 70’) – 6 – Gaspar came on to replace Foyth at the back, doing his job well despite not offering the same forward play as the man he replaced. Reuters

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  SUB: Moi Gomez – (Trigueros 81’) – N/R – The 26-year-old came on as a reaction to the Capoue sending off, making sure his side did not lose hold of the lead once the away side pulled one back. Reuters

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  SUB: Alberto Moreno – (Pedraza 81’) – N/R – The former Liverpool full-back was another tactical switch, trying to shore up the result for the Spanish side going into the dying moments. Reuters

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  ARSENAL RATINGS: Bernd Leno – 6 – The goalkeeper was unable to deny both Villarreal goals but made some important saves to keep Arsenal in the tie going into the second leg. EPA

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  Granit Xhaka – 5 – Looked shaky defending on the left, getting beaten in the one-on-one for the first goal against Chukwueze. Xhaka struggled to hold down the left flank through the game for Arsenal. Reuters

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  Pablo Mari – 5 - Could and should have won the header for the Villarreal's second goal, failing to close down Moreno for the flick on at the near post. Reuters

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  Rob Holding – 5 - Like his defensive partner, Holding could and should have played a part in cutting out the second goal from a set-piece. AFP

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  Calum Chambers – 6 - The defender looked solid on his flank, occasionally bursting forward to provide support on the overlap. AFP

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  Bukayo Saka – 7 – Won a penalty in the 71st minute with bravery and trickery in the box to give Arsenal a route back into the game. Had an otherwise quiet, yet solid game. AFP

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  Thomas Partey – 6 – The midfielder offered protection through the midfield, playing a few good passes into the final third but not offering a lot in attacking areas. AFP

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  Dani Ceballos – 4 – The 24-year-old started the game well, pulling the strings well for Arsenal in the central areas. However, the midfielder continually struggled defending against Foyth as the game went on, with the full-back getting the better of him on many occasions before he was sent off in the second half for a second yellow. Reuters

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  Emile Smith Rowe – 5 – The youngster had a quiet game, unable to impact the game offensively. AFP

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  Martin Odegaard – 5 - Did not add much in a playmaking capacity for the away side before being substituted in the second half. Reuters

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  Nicolas Pepe – 8 – The wide-man looked a threat for Arsenal and won a penalty for the away side before it was disallowed for a handball in the build-up. Scored later on from a penalty to bring Arsenal back into the tie. Reuters

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  SUB: Gabriel Martinelli (Odegaard 63’) – 5 – The youngster was brought on to impact things in the final third but was unable to do so, getting few chances off the bench to pull Arsenal back into the tie. AFP

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  SUB: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Saka 85’) – N/R – Came on as a last roll of the dice from Arteta. Had one big chance at the end that was well saved by Rulli that could have levelled the game. Reuters

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  SUB: Mohamed Elneny (Smith Rowe 90’) – N/R – Entered the fray in the late stages and his introduction was too little too late. AFP

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  SUB: Willian (Pepe 90’) – N/R – Took a late corner in the game but couldn’t find an Arsenal head. Reuters

Villarreal claimed a narrow advantage in their Europa League semi-final against Arsenal with a 2-1 home victory in the first leg on Thursday, although they will feel frustrated at letting the London club off the hook.

First-half goals by Manu Trigueros and Raul Albiol put the Spanish club in command and it looked bleak for the visitors when Dani Ceballos was sent off just before the hour mark.

Arsenal were rocking and needed keeper Bernd Leno to avoid them slipping further behind but they were thrown a lifeline when Nicolas Pepe converted a 73rd-minute penalty.

A chaotic game took another twist as Villarreal were also reduced to 10 men when former Tottenham Hotspur player Etienne Capoue received a second yellow card.

Villarreal, coached by former Arsenal manager and Europe League specialist Unai Emery, maintained their 100% home record in the competition this season.

But the tie remains delicately balanced ahead of next week's return in London.